Employment steady despite JobKeeper axing
Employment and hours worked have held steady despite the removal of key support measures that were in place during the heat of the pandemic, a new study has found.
Photo: Nat Rogers/InDaily
The successful JobKeeper wage subsidy and coronavirus JobSeeker supplement ended in March.
The survey of more than 3500 adult Australians by the Australian National University found employment stayed at around 60 per cent of the population between January and April 2021.
ANU’s Matthew Gray said there hadn’t been a dramatic decline in employment.
“This is even more impressive given our findings cover the period immediately following the cessation of the JobKeeper scheme and the JobSeeker supplement,” Professor Gray said.
“This is good news for many Australians, the economy and our economic activity, particularly as we look to rebuild in the wake of the COVID recession.”
Treasury had estimated that up to 150,000 people would lose their job as a result of the end of JobKeeper.
However, like the ANU survey, economists are growing confident these jobs can be absorbed by a surprisingly strong rebound in the jobs market.
Just hours before Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hands down his third budget on Tuesday night, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release its latest payroll jobs report, a precursor to official labour force data later this month.
It will be the first report to contain the full impact, if any, of JobKeeper ending.
Before then, Monday will see the release of National Australia Bank’s influential monthly business survey for April.
In March, business conditions were the strongest on record, while confidence remained well above average.
The ABS will also this week release final retail spending figures for March, as well as sales data for the March quarter.
-with AAP
