Workplace experts have put out a warning call to local jobs service providers to prepare for a contraction of the employment market.
At the recent National Jobs Australia Conference, Sustain Group CEO and chairman Matthew Tukaki voiced his concerns about the health of Australian employment.
“There are a number of industries that will experience significant jobs growth over the course of this next 12 to 24 months,” he said.
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Tukaki outlined anticipated jobs growth in the mining, construction, aged care and agriculture sectors, but warned providers to expect further contraction in manufacturing and retail trade.
He also called on the Government to provide more funding to address the problems of long term unemployed, bringing into question the place of profit providers in the jobs services sector.
He outlined the importance of dealing with citizens who aren’t as readily able for employment, saying “we need a reality check that as unemployment hits at about 3.5 to 4 percent those who remain will be the very people who may never ever get a job because of disability, mental illness, incarceration – we need to take a new approach and innovate around our strategy for the longer term unemployed.”
Tukaki’s greatest complaint was that “there is just too much red tape. Yes, the Government should provide oversight but we need to ask ourselves the question if the red tape and administrative burden on providers has grown far too large.”
“The other fact is there is just not enough money being invested into the very real root causes of long term unemployment and providers are expected to do more for less,” he added.
Tukaki said all of these factors are placing greater pressure on jobs services providers.