Coronavirus: JobSeeker numbers steady as crisis eases
JobSeeker numbers have dipped from their peak of 1.65 million on May 8 to 1.64 million on May 22.
An extra 300,000 people began receiving the $1100 fortnightly JobSeeker payment in the past month but Social Services Minister Anne Ruston says growing unemployment queues are finally starting to stabilise.
Department of Social Services officials told the COVID-19 Senate inquiry on Tuesday that 1.64 million Australians were now on JobSeeker, a doubling of dole recipients since February.
Senator Ruston said the latest JobSeeker and Youth Allowance figures showed that dole applications were steadying and the economy slowly opening up as coronavirus restrictions eased.
“Initially we saw a rapid increase in the number of people coming on to JobSeeker payment and related payments but over recent weeks the number of people in receipt of payments has remained relatively steady at around the 1.65 million mark,” she told The Australian.
JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments peaked on May 8 with more than 1.65 million recipients, but the number came down to 1.64 million by May 22, Senator Ruston said.
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