Australian government launches online tool to aid hiring of new staff
Business owners can now make use of a new online tool developed by the government to hire their first employee, potentially preventing costly mistakes.
Australia’s payroll jobs rise 0.3%, higher growth for male workers
Over the period, payroll jobs showed the largest increase in Queensland and the Northern Territory, each rising by 0.6% and 0.5% respectively.
56,000 people lost jobs after Australia ended JobKeeper
While these job losses are linked to the end of its wage subsidy, more people are beginning to find jobs, says the treasury secretary.
Australia’s unemployment rate in April falls to 5.5%
Official figures also show an improvement in youth unemployment, which is now better than at the start of the pandemic.
Changes in Australia’s federal budget to benefit part-timers and women
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has scrapped the A$450 (US$354) a month threshold to pay mandatory super in the 2021 federal budget.
Australia set to extend programme to train and reskill workforce
JobTrainer was designed for 17 to 24-year-olds and the unemployed, and was initially slated to expire in September.
Australia commits A$1.2 billion to spur digital economy
The announcement comes ahead of its Federal budget on May 11, and includes measures to support skills and investments in the digital workforce.
Australia sees rise in telework despite easing restrictions
Larger businesses were twice as likely to have introduced remote working arrangements in response to COVID-19 as compared to smaller firms.
Australia to unveil A$1.7 billion childcare fund in upcoming Budget
The current annual cap of A$10,560 per child will be removed, and instead increased to a maximum of 95% for families with two or more children.
Australians on unemployment benefits fall by 20,000
Since end-2020, the number of Australians relying on unemployment benefits has fallen by 13% as the country continues to recover from the pandemic.
Australia considers increasing childcare subsidies for female workers
To increase women’s participation in the workforce, the Australian government is considering increasing childcare subsidies in its upcoming budget.
Australia’s unions push back against calls for minimum wage delay
Major employer groups have argued for the Fair Work Commission to either impose a pay freeze or delay any pay hikes until February 2022.
Australia may allow employers to require staff to be vaccinated
In a first of its kind, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has upheld the termination of a childcare worker who had refused to get a flu jab.
70,700 new jobs created in Australia this March
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that 70,700 net new jobs were created in March, double the expected 35,000.
Australia gives cash incentive for unemployed to relocate for work
To incentivise job seekers to move to new locations for work, the government is giving them an upfront cash payment of A$2,000 (US$1,539).
Australian job ads post highest number in 12 years
The number of job openings in March reached 238,700, rising for 11 straight months, according to the National Skills Commission.
Australian government against minimum wage raise
The government is not raising minimum wages after ending its JobKeeper programme on March 28, citing job creation as one of its priorities.
Australian unions call for minimum wage hike as wage support ends
The wage hike to A$26 a week would allow low-wage workers to spend more, and is an effective way of spurring local businesses.
To boost wages, Australia’s jobless rate needs to fall
Before interest rates are raised, the unemployment rate will likely need to fall to between the “low 4s” and “high 3s”, said RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle.
Australia’s jobless rate dips to 5.8% to pre-pandemic levels
The unemployment rate fell in February to pre-pandemic levels amid the rollout of vaccination and fiscal stimulus stimulating the economy.
Australia extends its loan guarantee scheme
The extended scheme will see the government’s guarantee on loans increase to an 80/20 split with the banks, an increase from the current 50/50 split.
Australia doles out A$1.2 billion in wage subsidies
The scheme will see the government subsidise half of the wages for 70,000 apprentices for 12 months, incentivising businesses to hire younger workers.
Gender pay gap in Australia drops marginally
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has said the national gender pay gap decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 13.4% in the past six months.
Australian employees given choice to increase working incomes
The Australian government is looking to allow employees to choose between increased take-home pay and higher pension contributions.
Australia records 0.6% wage growth for 2020 December quarter
The uplift was attributed to a reverse in salary cuts by businesses, as a measure to survive amid the economic uncertainty brought on by COVID-19.
Australian employers cannot force staff to get COVID-19 jab
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and Safe Work Australia (SWA) have advised employers to assume employee vaccinations are not required.
Australia sees workers on wage subsidies fall
The number of workers who collected wage subsidies decreased by about 2 million over an eight-month period last year.
Australian MP calls on six months parental leave for fathers
This would encourage fathers to share care of the child, causing less disruption and long-term impact to women’s careers, she says.
Australia’s payroll jobs rise 1.3% in first half of January
Payroll jobs had the largest increases in the states of Queensland, up by 2.8%, and South Australia, up by 2.4%.
Some 300,000 Australians benefit from wage hike
This covers the country’s retail, fast food and warehouse workers, as well as those who work in aviation, arts and recreation, and tourism.