The JobKeeper payment and the Coronavirus Supplement have been vital measures which have supported thousands of people and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 4600 businesses in Mallee accessed the JobKeeper payment, and just over 10,000 individuals received the Coronavirus supplement which was added to JobSeeker and other several other welfare payments.
By the end of March 2021, nearly 12 months after their introduction, the payments are expected to end.
These payments, two of the largest direct government support payments in our nation’s history, were always designed to taper off as economic confidence and momentum builds. The end of March and the months following will be a trying time for many, however with our economic recovery well underway, Australians have cause for optimism and hope as we emerge from the COVID-19 recession.
As things slowly return to normal, albeit COVID normal, the Federal Government is focused on economic recovery through job creation. Recent figures demonstrate our recovery is well under way.
Data from the Education, Skills and Employment Department, known as the Internet Vacancy Index, displays vacancies for jobs on popular employment websites. It shows that prior to COVID-19, there were an average of 600 jobs posted online in the Wimmera and Western Victorian regions. This number decreased to as low as 418 vacancies at the height of the pandemic, but has steadily increased month on month, since May 2020. In November 2020, there were 757 online vacancies, the highest in two years.
Labour force figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that, across the country, our economy has recovered almost 90 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. To me, these figures indicate that the Commonwealth Government’s job creation and economic agenda is working in Mallee.
The HomeBuilder program has meant tradies are busier than ever, the JobMaker Hiring Credit is helping job seekers transition into work, and ongoing wage subsidies until September 2021 will incentivise employers to bring on new apprentices or trainees.
There is a long road ahead, but as a nation we are taking steps in the right direction towards recovery.
