Monthly labour force figures released today by the ABS reveal that while unemployment fell in March, this improvement is off the back of an increase in part-time work.
Seasonally adjustedfull-time employment decreased 8,800 to 8,180,400 and part-time employment increased 34,900 to 3,729,200. More Australians need secure, full time jobs, and these figures show that these are becoming increasingly hard to find.
With people who worked a single hour during the survey week being counted as ‘employed’ it is important to keep these figures in perspective and realise that unemployment and under-employment remain high compared with pre-GFC levels.
Rising underemployment saw 7.0% of men and 11.5% of women looking for more work in the November 2015 quarter.
Quotes attributable to ACTU President Ged Kearney:
“The growing prevalence of part-time work in the Australian workforce is a concerning trend that needs considered analysis.”
“The last thing we need is more insecure jobs, selling workers short and lowering living standards.”
“Insecure work is on the rise, and while these figures might look good on the surface, when you dig down there is little comfort for struggling Australian workers.”
