The percentage of long-term unemployed (people unemployed for one year or more) was 19% in July 2011 compared to 18% in July 2010 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Of these, around 83,000 (or three quarters of long-term unemployed people) were looking for full-time work in July 2011.


For long-term unemployed people the most common difficulties in finding a job were 'own health or disability' (17%), 'lacked necessary skills or education' (13%), followed by 'too many applicants for available jobs' (11%).


The majority of unemployed people, (81%) were unemployed for less than one year (short-term unemployed), with over a quarter of these (26%) having been unemployed for less than four weeks.


Of the short-term unemployed people, 13% reported that they had no difficulties in finding another job.

Public comment has been invited on a new template labour agreement to help the tourism and hospitality sectors attract skilled workers from overseas.

Fair Work Australia has approved a pay and conditions agreement struck between Qantas and the licensed engineers union late last year.

An open, supportive and stimulating workplace is more important than pay or bonuses in driving the success of fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises, an RMIT University study has shown.

The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee is currently conducting inquiries into two Fair Work Amendment bills.

The Board of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) has called for applications for the position of Commissioner.

The Fair Work Act Review Panel has released a background paper and announced the timing for the review’s submission process.

Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) has released the results of recent research that found 76 per cent of new bachelor degree graduates in the job market found full-time employment within four months of completing their studies. The report shows a decline from the 2009 figure that showed that 79 per cent had found employment.

Employment specialist Manpower has released its first quarterly Employment Outlook Survey for 2012, finding a generally ‘upbeat hiring pace in Quarter 1, 2012’.

Hays has released its Quarterly Report into HR in the private sector, finding that the mining boom is creating demand for internal recruiters and that HR Generalists are required at all levels as organisations increase their headcount.

ANZ has released its December 2011 quarterly report into job advertisements, finding that the total number of advertised positions has fallen by a total of 2.6 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $585,000 in owed backpay for 755 staff in the retail sector throughout the country following a successful campaign by the office.

The Australian Government is staging a National Telework Week in November this year to encourage increased uptake  of telework, utilising the capabilities of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

New harmonised work health and safety laws have come into effect in New South Wales,  the ACT, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Commonwealth jurisdictions. 

Safe Work Australia is considering engaging an expert on workplace bullying after  nearly a quarter of submissions on a range of OH&S issues referred to the draft bullying code.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has extended the consultation period for its investigation into the rise of insecure work and its effect on families and communities.

The Australian Government is introducing more stringent evidentiary requirements for employment service providers.

A three-member panel and terms of reference have been announced for the Federal Government’s review of the Fair Work Act.

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