Young people are not only suffering from fewer job opportunities their wages took a big hit at the start of June according to data released this morning by the ABS.
Between the 14th of March and the 13th of June payroll jobs declined 15.2 per cent for people under 20 and 10.1 per cent for people aged between 20-29 years. Those age groups, along with workers over 70 years of age, were the only age brackets to keep going backwards between June 6th and June 13th.
The stats also show a 7.1 per cent decline in total wages for people under 20 years of age between June 6th and 13th
The ACTU has called for a continuation of JobKeeper and JobSeeker as well as the development of a detailed jobs plan with specific supports for young people to create jobs, upskill, train and be supported into employment.
As noted by ACTU President Michele O’Neil
“These figures show that young people are still carrying the weight of the economic costs in this crisis. While it is good to see some green shoots among other age groups young people continue to go backwards with little hope on offer from the Morrison Government.
“The only supports for young people will be removed in September when JobKeeper and JobSeeker come to an end and this is coupled with confusing “price signals” including huge cost increases for some courses which will deter people from taking on higher education.
“The Morrison Government needs to commit to extending and expanding JobKeeper to support the hundreds of thousands of young workers who have been excluded from support while also ensuring that no one reliant on JobSeeker has to suffer the poverty of the old $40 a day Newstart rate
“We need to see a proper plan to create jobs, and training opportunities for young people, to lift their wages and get them in education or employment. We cannot continue to see our next generation left behind.”
