Melbourne jobs: How to find work in the CBD during the pandemic
Women in Melbourne’s CBD have been hardest hit by unemployment caused by the coronavirus. We spoke to some of the city’s biggest employers to find out what the job market outlook is — and it’s not all bad news.
Melbourne City
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Victoria’s deadly virus outbreak and lockdown has taken a toll on jobs and employment in Melbourne’s CBD, new figures show.
But there are still new roles opening across the city.
Melbourne’s unemployment increased from 4.66 per cent to 5.33 per cent in the year to August.
For men the rate increased from 4.44 per cent to 5.2 per cent, but women have started and finished the 12 months in an even worse position increasing from 4.89 per cent to 5.46 per cent.
Compared to the rest of the state, inner Melbourne has fared well as Victoria recorded a 1.11 per cent change across the 12-month period with unemployment rising from 4.84 per cent to 5.95 per cent.
The number of Victorians looking for a job rose 67 per cent to 130,000 people.
Across the country the number of people out of work almost doubled from 237,000 to 465,000 people in August.
Of the 73,159 people living in the Melbourne city area 84.8 per cent were employed full or part-time, according to the most recent ABS data.
The most common occupations included professionals, managers, sales, and clerical workers with hospitality, IT, higher education and health the top industries of employment.
The City of Melbourne have promised 150 jobs will be created to revive 40 CBD laneways as part of a six-month project employing production and graphic designers, music producers, lighting specialists, technicians and maintenance workers.
Lord Mayor Sally Cap said it would be a chance to bring in business to the city and create needed jobs.
“We want to enhance dozens of laneways across the CBD to showcase the unique businesses and attractions that are on offer here in Melbourne,” she said.
“This is an investment that will create much-needed jobs now but also help businesses attract more customers into the future — supporting jobs well after the work is complete.”
Supermarket giant Woolworths told The Melbourne City News about 5000 new roles were created in March and April in Victorian stores and 20,000 new jobs across the country.
A Woolworths media spokesman said they would also hire across the festive period.
“We’re pleased to have played an important role in keeping Australian’s employed during an uncertain time,” he said.
“Woolworths supermarkets will continue to hire roles on a store by store basis for the Christmas and New Year period this year.”
Melbourne University has seen a loss of $177m in revenue this year and anticipates 450 permanent jobs will be lost as a result of cost cutting measures during the pandemic.
Vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell said when more enrolment numbers for 2021 were in it would shed a light on what cost saving measures need to be taken.
“As soon as our borders open up, we need to do everything possible to get international students back to Victoria as safely and quickly as possible,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation the University is facing, as a result of COVID-19. If the situation changes — for better or worse — we will adjust our plans accordingly and keep close engagement with staff and students throughout.”
The university aimed to introduce a voluntary redundancy program before the end of the year and have invited academic and professional staff to register.
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Contact Grace at grace.mckinnon@news.com.au