State Government urged to act on employment ‘crisis’

TASMANIA is in the grips of a jobs crisis and the State Government needs to find answers fast, says the community sector.

TASMANIA is in the grips of a jobs crisis and the State Government needs to find answers fast, says the community sector.

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service has called on the Hodgman Government to follow the lead of other states by forming a taskforce to oversee a cohesive effort on employment.

“We call on the Tasmanian Government to acknowledge not just the challenge of employment in this state but the urgency of the need to find solutions, the urgency that makes this an ongoing crisis,” TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force figures show 5200 jobs have been lost from Tasmania since September.

TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Further, youth unemployment rate has reached as high as 20.5 per cent in the south-east.

“The Government must decide to bring together the experts in our communities, in business and all other areas to create a Tasmanian jobs taskforce,” Ms Goodes said yesterday.

“With tight timelines, a strong, focused goal and a respectful approach, we are certain this is an issue Tasmanians can tackle together for all of our benefit.”

Ms Goodes said an important first step would be for the Government to make a politically difficult admission the state was in the grip of a jobs crisis.

However, Treasurer Peter Gutwein said while jobs were the State Government’s top priority, he rejected the notion of a crisis.

“The Government is concerned about the recent decline in the jobs market, but some perspective is required,” Mr Gutwein said.

To help connect job seekers with work, News Corp Australia has launched the “5000 jobs in 50 days” campaign and is calling on employers to consider whether they can give an inexperienced jobseeker a start.

‘If people have given up looking for work, if this is a culture that continues to set into Tasmania, we have cause for real concern.’ – TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes

News Corp is also urging jobseekers to make themselves more employable, returning to finish school if need be or pursuing the best tertiary or vocational study options as well as honing what employers call “soft” skills, such as communication.

MORE: BEST CHANCE MAY BE OFF TRADITIONAL TRAIL

The latest ABS data shows Tasmania’s overall unemployment rate is steady at 6.4 per cent, but economist Saul Eslake said people seemed to be giving up on looking for work. The participation rate has fallen to 59.3 per cent – the lowest in over 10 years.

Ms Goodes said the Government’s emphasis on the overall unemployment rate “masked” the real jobs situation.

“It does not take into account the fact that there are less jobs in Tasmania and less people working. This is the third month in a row that we are seeing a decline in the number of people employed. If people have given up looking for work, if this is a culture that continues to set into Tasmania, we have cause for real concern,” she said.

GET INVOLVED Do you have a job for a young, inexperienced jobseeker? Or are you a first-time jobseeker? Email [e-mail] and register your position in the reply email.

Ms Goodes said the need for State Government to show leadership was all the more pressing following the Coalition’s recent Federal election wipe-out in Tasmania.

“For the first time in decades, we’ve got no Tasmanian in the Federal Cabinet. Other states are ahead of us in terms of representation in Canberra.”

Mr Gutwein has rejected the idea of a taskforce, saying a “talkfest” would not help.

“Since the election, the unemployment rate has declined by over 1 per cent. Last year the economy grew at its fastest rate in six years and there are still more Tasmanians employed today than under the last 27 months of the Labor-Green Government,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We are focused on supporting jobs and growth through measures such as implementing a single statewide planning scheme, supporting our farmers through the recent natural disasters, and growing trade opportunities like the trade mission to India announced today.

“We are always happy to listen to ideas from the community and business sector on ways to support job creation, but we don’t agree with TasCOSS that another talkfest will help.”

Originally published as State Government urged to act on employment ‘crisis’