Yahoo Finance 'Start looking now': Jobseeker warning as September looms
With the September expiry date for JobKeeper and the JobSeeker boost looming, Aussies have been warned to start looking for jobs now, before the competition soars.
The Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) is urging everyone to start applying for jobs, if they haven’t already, as thousands of Australians will all be vying for the limited jobs available come September.
“The message we want to get out is the earlier you start looking for a job, the better off you’ll be at the end of September,” said COSBOA chief executive Peter Strong.
“There are still some jobs available right now but there will be a lot of competition once everyone starts applying for them at the same time, maybe even all on the same day. If you start looking now you can avoid being part of that competition.”
The warning comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison claimed Australians weren’t looking for work due to the JobSeeker payment being too generous.
Also read: 7 secrets to job-hunting during the coronavirus pandemic
Also read: What Australia’s jobs market will look like after Covid-19
"We are getting a lot of anecdotal feedback from small businesses, even large businesses," he told 2GB on Wednesday.
"Some of them are finding it hard to get people to come and take the shifts because they're on these higher levels of payment."
The Council also noted some industry association members voiced concerns that they were struggling to fill casual and part-time roles right now.
“This could be because people are content with the JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments that they’re receiving and don’t feel motivated to look for more work,” the Council stated.
“It could also be because many of the people who are unemployed right now have never been unemployed before and don’t know that they can look for a certain amount of part-time or casual work and still continue receiving JobSeeker payments.”
However, as long as those receiving JobKeeper maintain employment with their JobKeeper-eligible employer, they can look for work elsewhere and earn more income, the Council stated.
“There are small businesses out there that need staff, including service stations, cafes, restaurants, shops and hotels. Not every business out there is losing money – some are doing well but many can’t find the staff they need.”
The Council also stated the JobSeeker rate should be boosted permanently by a minimum of $100 per week, but preferably $200 per week.
“We want people to be in the right headspace to look for a job or get training and they won’t be if they’re worrying about basic living expenses,” it stated.
“We know that the vast majority of people would prefer to be employed, so this message is for them: don’t wait until the end of September – start looking now.”
Who’s hiring right now?
The unemployment rate hit a 19-year high in May, with 227,700 Aussies losing their positions during the month, but many workplaces are still hiring.
Here’s a rolling blog of the businesses hiring right now.
And if you’re feeling a little nervous about job-hunting, executive coach and co-founder of the Colin James Method Erica Bagshaw and Indeed ANZ head of career insights Jay Munro revealed their top tips on how to increase your chances of landing a job during the coronavirus crisis during Episode 3 of Yahoo Finance’s Breakfast Club.
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