Employment post-JobSeeker remains steady

Employment and hours worked have remained steady, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the scaling back of JobSeeker, new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. The survey of more than 3,500 adult Australians, led by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods (CSRM), found employment stayed at around 60 per cent of the population between January and April 2021. "However, the real story here is that there hasn't been a dramatic decline in employment either," study co-author and CSRM Director Professor Matthew Gray said.  "This is even more impressive, given our findings cover the period immediately following the cessation of the JobKeeper scheme and the JobSeeker supplement. "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." -   - The study shows average hours worked were the same in April 2021 as November 2020 - 20.6 hours per week. However, this is still well below what they were in February 2020, when average hours worked per week were 21. The longitudinal study, which has been tracking the impact of COVID-19 in Australia since April 2020, shows the lowest level of average weekly hours worked came in May last year, when they sat at 18.5 hours per adult. They have steadily increased since then, except in January 2021 during the holiday period.