Unemployment
1. DEFINITION
The Macquarie Dictionary defines unemployment as “the number of people willing to work but unable to find paid employment”. (1)
2. BIBLE REFERENCE
Job 11:18
“Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and rest in safety”.
3. FACTS
·In 2004 there were 579, 056 unemployed Australians and the unemployment rate was 5.7%.
·In 2004 there were 183, 309 unemployed NSW residents and the unemployment rate was 5.5%.
·The unemployment rate in NSW has decreased in the three year period from 2002 – 2004.
·In 2003 there were 2, 538, 732 wage and salary earners in NSW.
·The ACT has the lowest unemployment rate, in 2004 there were 6,969 unemployed people and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
·Tasmania has the highest unemployment rate, in 2004 there were 15, 528 unemployed people and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
·NSW has one of the lowest employment rates in Australia, however has the highest amount of people unemployed . (2)
4. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
Welfare To Work Package (3)
·Aimed at making Australia’s welfare system more sustainable.
·More Australians are now looking for work that they are suited to.
·To help Australians move into work the Australian Government is investing $3.7 billion over a four year period.
·It is will overcome two types of barriers: The first is the barrier people face when they try to find a job, keep a job, or become employed after being absent from the workforce. The second barrier is the one employers face when they attempt to create more flexible jobs.
·Four priority groups are concentrated on: principal carer parents, mature aged individuals, people with disabilities and those who have been unemployed for a long period of time.
· The services that will be offered in the Welfare To Work Package are:
o Job capacity assessments.
o A wage subsidy programme.
o Extra places for outside school care and day care.
o Training and skills development services.
o More places for people with disabilities.
o An employment preparation service.
·The package will also strive to connect unemployed people with employers and give more incentives to join the workforce.
5. HOW YOU CAN ACT
a) Careerone recommends some tips for writing resumes: (4)
·Keep the font simple and easy to read.
·Use bold for headings, and use the same style of dot points throughout.
·Put a career objective if you are a university graduate or school leaver, put a career overview if you aren’t.
·Make sure you list your main strengths.
·When you list your professional history make sure that it is in reverse chronological order.
·Make sure you list a description of your employer, your responsibilities and achievements.
·For education and training, place your highest qualification first.
·Put referees at the end.
·Have a resume that is 3-5 pages in length.
For more information on how to write a resume, please visit:
http://www.careerone.com.au/jobs/job-search/get-that-job/improve-your-resume
b) Kate Southam editor of Careerone recommends some interview tips:
·Make sure you have researched your prospective company.
·Make sure you do practice interview with friends or family.
·Find out the names and title of the people you will be meeting with at the interview.
·Make sure you are well groomed and you dress well on the day.
·Make sure your answers are short and to the point.
·Maintain eye contact.
·Make sure you have some questions that you could ask them.
For more interview tips, please visit:
http://www.careerone.com.au/jobs/job-search/get-that-job/pid/2040
6. BIBLIOGAPHY AND FURTHER READING
The Australian Government, Moving into Work, Overview:
http://www.movingintowork.gov.au/movingintowork/Overview/
CareerOne Service Pty. Ltd., CareerOne,
http://www.careerone.com.au/jobs/get-that-job/
Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics
http://www.abs.gov.au/
New South Wales Government, Employment,
http://www.nsw.gov.au/employment.asp
SEEK, Australia’s #1 Job Website,
http://www.seek.com.au/
(1) Macquarie Dictionary (2005), “Unemployment”, Macquarie University, Published by Macquarie Library.
(2) All facts in Section 2: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Statistics, Economy: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/nrpbygeogtype?openview&restricttocategory=Main%20Areas&Expand=1&
(3) All information in Section 4: The Australian Government, Moving into Work, Overview:
http://www.movingintowork.gov.au/movingintowork/Overview/
(4) All information in Section 5: CareerOne Service Pty. Ltd., CareerOne,
http://www.careerone.com.au/jobs/get-that-job/
