Fed: Welfare group says unemployment rate skewed

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2005
Fed: Welfare group says unemployment rate skewed

MELBOURNE, Feb 10 AAP - The official unemployment figures did not paint an accurate
picture of work situation in Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence said today.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today showed the unemployment
rate has remained steady at 5.1 per cent.

But Brotherhood executive director Tony Nicholson said the current definition that
one hour's work-a-week equals employment skewed the official rate.

"While working for one hour-a-week is better than not working at all, it's not enough
for anyone to survive on to meet current living costs," Mr Nicholson said.

He said the unemployment rate did not represent the full number of Australians out
of work or those wanting more hours of work or those who have given up on finding a job.

He said the ABS had a series of broader measures that included other groups of people
whose labour is not being used, such as underemployed workers and discouraged job seekers.

"These figures paint a more accurate picture of unemployment in Australia but unfortunately
gain little publicity," Mr Nicholson said.

"Based on the latest ABS figures from October 2004 the unemployment rate becomes twice
the size of the official unemployment rate when it includes underemployed workers and
discouraged job seekers."

AAP rb/dk/was/de

KEYWORD: JOBS BROTHERHOOD

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