More than 500 unemployed Australians back in work in January

516 long-term unemployed Australians have found a paying job in January, with the help of the Australian Government’s new Wage Connect Subsidy. 35,000 new wage subsidies are being made available over the next four years to encourage employers to take on jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than two years.

The Wage Connect Subsidy was about giving employers the incentive to give an unemployed Australian a chance, when they might not otherwise have been given one, said Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis.

“We know that having a decent job is about so much more than just collecting a fortnightly pay cheque,” Ellis said.

“Having a job brings a sense of dignity, a sense of pride in being able to provide for yourself and your family and also a sense of connectedness with your community.”

Wage Connect helps employers to offset their initial training and labour costs and remove barriers that may have stopped them taking on staff in the past. Wage subsidies of around $6000 are paid to employers who take on and retain people as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce initiative.

Eligible employers will receive around $5700 for each job placement, or around $220 each week (pre GST) to offset the costs of wages and training for new employees for the first six months they are in the job. “We know that people who have been unemployed for a long period of time have difficulty finding full-time employment because they often don’t have the necessary skills and work experience employers are looking for,” Ellis said.

The Australian Government will invest almost $95m over the next four years in the Wage Connect subsidy and $8.5 billion in broader employment services. Employers who would like to learn more about Wage Connect can visit www.deewr.gov.au/wageconnectsubsidy or contact a local employment services provider on 131 715.