By comparing the Australian Bureau of Statistics (seasonally adjusted) on unemployment, underemployment and hidden unemployment with the Department of Employment’s job vacancies statistics, we are able to get an invaluable insight – albeit almost certainly understated – into the state of Australia’s labour market.
We are in an employment crisis. No political party is even acknowledging this situation, let alone trying to fix it.
2016 (November)
Unemployed: 725,200
Underemployed: 1, 059,400
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million
Job Vacancies: 163, 700
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19.36
2016 (August)
Unemployed: 713,300
Underemployed: 1,110,100
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million
Job vacancies: 166,800
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19.24
2016 (May)
Unemployment: 731,600
Underemployed: 1.067
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 167,500 job vacancies
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19
2016 (February)
Unemployment: 732,600
Underemployment: 1,058,900
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 166,500
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19.13
2016 (January)
Unemployment: 761,400
Underemployment: 1,068,000
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 166,700
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19,3
2015 (September)
Unemployment: 742, 300
Underemployment: 1,068,000
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 160, 900
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies:20
2015 (Aug)
Unemployment: 778, 400
Under Employment: 1051.2
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 155,00
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 20.7
2015 (Jan)
unemployment: 777.3
underemployment: 1060.9
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 159.4
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies:20
2014 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment: 724.7
underemployment: 953.9
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies:: 147.7
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies:20.8
2013 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment: 655.2
underemployed: 867.7
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 144.9
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 20
2012 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment: 619,100
underemployed: 874,400
Hidden Unemployment: 1.32 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the ABS
Job Vacancies: 193,300
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 14.5
2011 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment: 586,300
underemployed: 816,100
Hidden Unemployment: 1.32 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 213,00
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 12.77
2010 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment 611,700
underemployed: 866,700
Hidden Unemployment: 1.32 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 188,000
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 14.9
2009 (Feb-Jan)
unemployment: 604,500
underemployed: 831,700
Hidden Unemployment: 1.25 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 181,200
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 14.8
2008 (Feb-Jan)
underemployment 661,900
unemployment: 657,300
Hidden Unemployment: 1.155 million looking for work but not in the labour force according to the latest ABS figures
Job Vacancies: 305,300
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 8