Almost One Million Jobless As Unemployment Rises Further

19 November 2020

Today’s ABS Labour Force update showed a further increase in unemployment with almost one million Australians now unemployed, despite a welcome increase in jobs in the month of October.

with
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY
MEMBER FOR GORTON

Today’s ABS Labour Force update showed a further increase in unemployment with almost one million Australians now unemployed, despite a welcome increase in jobs in the month of October.
 
Any increase in jobs is welcome, but what looks like a recovery will continue to feel like a recession for too many Australians.
 
The number of jobless Australians increased by 25,000 during the month with 960,900 unemployed, which is partly a consequence of the Morrison Government’s decision to withdraw vital support too soon.
 
When almost a million Australians are unemployed and unemployment is still expected to rise further, the Morrison Government’s decision to prematurely cut JobKeeper and JobSeeker risks higher unemployment for longer.
   
The October ABS Labour Force figures confirm that:

  • Almost half of new jobs created in October were in Victoria, as restrictions eased
  • Australia’s unemployment rate has now climbed to 7 per cent
  • 960,900 Australians are now unemployed, up 265,000 from February this year
  • The youth unemployment rate increased to 15.6 per cent, an increase of 3.1 points over the year.  

The Prime Minister has been slow to act during this crisis, and his Government’s deliberate decision to exclude Australians from support means the only lasting legacies of this crisis could be higher unemployment for longer and a trillion dollars of debt.
 
THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2020