Unemployment Figures - More Good News But What's Behind The Statistics

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Employment

Media Statement - 10 February 2000

Today's Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force figures for January hold some good news for Canberra Labor Shadow Employment Minister Wayne Berry said today.

"With 500 new jobs in January there is cause to celebrate, but the gloss is taken off when we see that they're all part-time jobs.

"We had problems last year as Canberrans sought full-time work in a climate where most of the new jobs were part-time. I hope we are not returning to that scenario.

"The ABS has found that many people in part-time work would prefer to work more hours, so the creation of part-time jobs will not solve this underemployment problem.

"And if people are underemployed they cannot share in the benefits of a buoyant economy.

"The slight rise from 900 to 1300 in youth unemployment, our perennial problem, was to be expected as school leavers come onto the market, but if there are no new full-time jobs on offer they run the risk of starting on the unemployment roller-coaster.

The ACT economy is being carried along in a buoyant Australian, and in particular, NSW pre-Olympic economy but we must keep in mind the possible effects on employment of attempts to wind the economy back with higher interest rates and anticipated post-Olympic economic performance," Mr Berry concluded.