Territorians on JobSeeker surge by 30 per cent as job vacancies dwindle due to coronavirus

THE number of Territorians on unemployment benefits surged more than 30 per cent in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, with the job-seeking crowd trumping job vacancies 15 to 1.

• Many NT businesses could ‘cease to exist’ if JobKeeper pulled
• 18,000 Territorians could be left jobless if JobKeeper ends too soon

THE number of Territorians on unemployment benefits surged more than 30 per cent in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, with the job-seeking crowd trumping job vacancies 15 to 1.

The latest federal government data shows 26,369 Territorians were on JobSeeker payments in May, a 32 per cent increase from 19,931 people in March.

JobSeeker payments, usually $565.70 a fortnight, were nearly doubled to $1115.70 as part of the government’s coronavirus response but the pandemic supplement is due to end in September.

Opposition Social Services Minister Linda Burney said millions of out-of-work Australians were now anxious about what support would be available to them at the end of September.

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Against the background of Australian Bureau of Statistics job vacancy data for May, there are 15 Territorian Job seekers for each job vacancy.

The data comes after the NT Newslast week revealed 18,303 Territory workers spread across 4777 businesses were at risk of losing their jobs if JobKeeper ended too early.

Ms Burney said it “defies reality” that JobSeeker is scheduled to end in September when there are “nowhere near enough jobs for the people who need them”.

There was speculation the Federal Government was considering a permanent $75 a week increase in JobSeeker, claims that were squarely shut down by Social Services Minister Anne Ruston.

Federal Labor has been pressuring Prime Minister Scott Morrison to release his plans for ongoing income support amid the economic recession earlier than late July.

But in a press conference on Friday, Mr Morrison remained adamant that the timetable would not change.

“The details of our decisions will be set out at the time of releasing the economic statement,” he said.

“I have made it very clear that there would be a further stage of income support.”

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The Federal Government is due to release its economic statement on July 23, less than a week before the NT Government will release theirs.