High net migration during a period of no net job growth: implications for young job-seekers

From July 2008 to July 2009 the labour force grew by 166,000 but there was no increase in the number of people employed. Consequently this increase translated directly into growth in unemployment. But the burden of unemployment was not shared equally. Previous work has shown that employment actually grew among people aged 55 and over but fell among those aged 15 to 34. Thus young people were disproportionately affected. The present article focuses on the contribution of Australia’s record levels of immigration. Most of the labour-force growth (88 per cent) has been due to immigration and most migrants in the labour force have found work, partly because changes in social welfare rules make this essential for them, regardless of wages or conditions. In consequence the competitive labour-market pressures facing young Australians are now intense. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s