Job Search
Top Spots in Australia Where Job Seekers Face Major Challenges
Key Highlights
- A shocking new report reveals that there are 33 job seekers for every entry-level position in Australia.
- Almost two-thirds of these hopeful job seekers face additional obstacles to employment.
- The report uncovers regions across the country where landing an entry-level job is particularly challenging.
Securing entry-level work in Australia has become an uphill battle for many, with some regions making it virtually impossible for job seekers to even get a foot in the door, according to the latest eye-opening research.
The annual Jobs Availability Snapshot has taken a hard look at the stark reality of job seekers versus available positions, revealing that the competition is fiercer than ever.
The numbers are staggering: 33 individuals are now vying for each entry-level role, a sharp increase from last year’s 26 and an alarming rise from just 15 seekers per position in 2022.
Entry-level jobs accounted for a mere 10.8 percent of all roles advertised during this sampling period.
“The availability of entry-level positions has drastically declined over the decade we’ve been tracking this,” said an expert from the organization behind the report.
“This makes it exceedingly challenging for anyone trying to make their way into the workforce,” she added.
For those facing extra hurdles to employment, the situation is particularly grim.
A staggering 21 out of 33 job seekers in the pool are grappling with significant barriers to finding work—the highest competition level since the pandemic.
These barriers can range from lacking formal qualifications, being older, taking a career break to raise children, having disabilities, speaking English as a second language, or residing in remote areas.
“Those individuals often aren’t prepared for jobs that demand advanced degrees and extensive experience,” she noted.
The expert emphasizes the “particularly difficult situation” faced by those with additional barriers to employment. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
The Struggle for Entry-Level Jobs Across Australia
Across Australia, the competition for entry-level roles is dire, but nowhere is it more pronounced than in the Northern Territory.
In this region, a staggering 65 job seekers are competing for every single entry-level position.
According to experts, the vast geography of the NT creates an additional hurdle.
“If you’re in Darwin and there’s a job in Alice Springs…that’s a significant distance. It’s not something you can just pop over for,” she explained.
Tasmania follows closely behind, with 50 seekers for each entry-level role, and South Australia trails with 43 job seekers per position.
Entry-level job opportunities are scarce across all of Australia. Source: SBS News
Job seekers in the ACT have the best odds, with 17 people for each entry-level position.
However, experts caution that the national competition for these roles is likely even higher, as many individuals in need of work are not included in the JobSeeker statistics.
“Our figures are quite conservative,” she noted.
The increasing number of Australians holding multiple jobs is also noteworthy, with figures from June indicating that 6.5 percent of the workforce has taken on more than one role.
How Can We Tackle the Job Crisis in Australia?
Around 62 percent of JobSeeker recipients are long-term unemployed, often spending an average of four years in search of work.
Since last year, there has been a 2 percent rise in the number of individuals receiving this payment.
“While it may seem small, each increase represents a person or family struggling to get by on an income that’s just half of the poverty line,” the expert stated.
“We need to take action as a community, or we’ll be consigning many to the long-term job seeker list.”
One critical solution is to increase the JobSeeker payment rates. Currently, a single individual without children can receive a maximum of $778 every two weeks, while couples can get $712.30 each, totaling $1,424.60 combined.
“By maintaining such low payment rates, we’re actually making it harder for people to find employment, as they are forced to deplete their savings and seek out cheaper living options,” she said.
There is also a call for the government to step up and create more entry-level positions while encouraging industries to do the same.
“When talking with senior government officials, they often find themselves doing administrative work that could easily be consolidated into a single entry-level position,” she explained.
“In the past, these administrative roles provided a pathway for individuals to enter the workforce, learn the ropes, and advance. Unfortunately, many of these roles have vanished.”
“Removing the first rung from the ladder makes it exponentially harder for anyone to climb up.”
Experts stress the need for employment service providers to enhance their services, focusing on securing sustainable, long-term employment instead of just filling vacancies without consideration for fit.
“They cost taxpayers a fortune without effectively helping people find the right roles,” she stated.
“For those facing barriers, what truly works is comprehensive support—assessing their skills and interests and matching them to suitable job opportunities so they can thrive in those positions.
“There’s no point in training someone for a job that doesn’t exist in their community.”
