Number of Territorians on JobSeeker surges in December, as full-time jobs fail to return

The number of Territorians on the dole surged in December, revealing rosy employment statistics are masking a shift from full-time to part-time work.

THE number of Territorians on the dole surged in December, revealing rosy employment statistics are masking a shift from full-time to part-time work.

The Sunday Territorian can reveal there were 25,947 Territorians on the JobSeeker payment at the end of 2020, the first major increase since the throes of the pandemic.

Department of Social Services data shows 19,931 people receiving unemployment benefits in the NT just before the nation shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

MORE:

Nearly 1000 jobs created in the NT in December, as construction sector picks up

NT domestic tourism industry income halved as pandemic spurs longer holidays at home

Hotel boom: Top End occupancy rates at levels not usually seen until the beginning of the Dry season

The number ballooned to a high of 26,431 in July and had been steadily decreasing- until December, which was a positive month for job creation in the NT according to labour force data.

While 900 Territorians found work in December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data also shows the number of people in full time jobs fell by 900 compared to the previous month.

Economist Saul Eslake theorised that the number of people on the dole had increased due to a reduction in hours worked by Territorians in December, pushing them to supplement their income with JobSeeker.

“One possible explanation is you had more people that were claiming JobSeeker but not unemployed as defined by the ABS.,” he said.

The ABS defines someone as employed if they work one hour or more in the week data is collected.

A total of 7300 full time jobs lost in the NT since March are yet to return.

JobSeeker payments are worth $565.70 a fortnight plus a $150 coronavirus supplement but the extra payment is due to cease at the end of March.

There have been calls, including from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, urging Prime Minister Scott Morrison to permanently increase the $40-a-day JobSeeker rate.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, when asked if he too wanted dole payments to be increased, said he was “not in the business of telling the PM how to do his job”.

“The higher rate has helped a lot of people but at the end of the day he’s got to make it all add up,” he said.

“I’d rather focus on what I can control in the Territory.”

Australian Council of Social Service acting chief executive Edwina MacDonald said there was still “a long way to go” to provide paid employment to all who need it, considering two-thirds of full-time jobs lost nationally during the recession were yet to be restored.