Hospitality, health and arts the big losers in SA job losses

New data shows how hard and fast the coronavirus has ripped into the heart of SA jobs, with frightening results. But there are hopes of recovery as restrictions start to lift.

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ONLY two industry sectors have not seen a net loss in South Australian jobs since the peak of COVID-19, new figures show, highlighting the impact of the pandemic’s economic sledgehammer.

Education and the utilities sectors are the only areas of the economy not to experience net job losses in South Australia, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

All up, 61,000 jobs have been lost from 19 industry sectors since the 100th case in Australia was recorded on March 14.

Hospitality and tourism jobs – under the banner of accommodation services – have been the biggest casualties since the peak of COVID-19.

But the bespoke figures, produced by the ABS to focus on the impact of COVID-19, show most industries have been affected in some form.

The Advertiser analysis of employment statistics from February, combined with this week’s new data, suggest more than 18,000 jobs have gone from the accommodation services sector.

The next hardest hit sectors by job numbers were health care and social assistance workers (7056), professional, scientific and technical staff (5162) and manufacturing (4764).

Sectors with lower job numbers have also been hit: arts and recreation services are a prime example.

The sector has lost 24.8 per cent of its workforce – an estimated 3150 workers.

Using national ABS data as a guide, the majority of these jobs are expected to have come from “Creative and Performing Arts Activities” and “Sports and Recreation Activities.”

The retail trade workforce in SA has experienced a 4 per cent drop – an estimated 3600 workers – after recording a slight rise, 0.4 per cent, between March 14 and April 2.

The ABS on Wednesday released data for April that showed the strongest ever seasonally adjusted rise in retail trade across Australia in March 2020, in part due to COVID-19-related spending, was reversed last month as spending fell by 17.9 per cent.

In a statement, the ABS said there were particularly strong falls in food retailing, cafes, restaurants and takeaways, and clothing, footwear and personal accessories.

“The food retailing industry, which saw a strong rise in March due to unprecedented demand, fell 17.1 per cent from March 2020,” it read.

“Additional analysis indicates that the majority of products which rose substantially in March recorded falls in April 2020, however they remained at higher levels than April 2019.”

SA Council of Social Service chief Ross Womersley said with nearly a quarter of million South Australians looking for work or more hours of work, more action is needed urgently.

SACOSS CEO Ross Womersley. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

“SACOSS has already highlighted the importance of tax reform for economic reconstruction, but we will also need government deficit spending to get people back to work,” Mr Womersley said.

“Governments often look to big infrastructure projects for stimulus, but we will also need to look at investing in people and in projects which directly assist those who have been most affected by this crisis.”

Premier Steven Marshall said he expected improvements in some sectors, like health and dental, as parts of the economy were opened up from easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Since then (when the snapshot was taken) we have had our elective surgery and dental bans lifted which will help health sector workers get back to work,” he said.

Mr Marshall said “all day, every day” he was meeting with various sectors to address job losses.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said losing 60,000 jobs in six weeks is devastating for the SA economy.

“These figures … highlight how important it is to get our economy back open for business again as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

ROAD TO RECOVERY