Entry-level jobs dry up as international students flood in

A report from Anglicare shows that about 100,000 people in Australia face barriers to gaining work and are therefore at risk of long-term unemployment.

Anglicare notes that this figure has stayed largely unchanged over the last five years, despite a labour market rebound since pandemic measures were wound back.

Anglicare says the decline in entry-level jobs is exacerbating the problem, as there is an average of 15 applicants for each of these jobs.

From The Guardian:

“We’ve come through a period of high employment yet our findings show there’s a pool of Australians that have not shared in this prosperity and have remained long-term unemployed,” said Anglicare’s executive director, Kasy Chambers.

“That shows the employment services are not doing their job, and the job market does not work well for those looking for entry-level jobs.”

To be fair, youth unemployment declined sharply following the collapse in immigration over the pandemic, which shrunk the number of young people looking for jobs:

Regardless, both entry level jobs and youth unemployment will deteriorate now that international students are returning in record numbers:

Soon, stubbornly high youth unemployment will reemerge, alongside endemic wage theft, exploitation and crush-loaded housing and infrastructure.