Deancm

Interesting article in the Age. States that although Australia seems to have weathered the GFC well it is all smoke and mirrors because with all the working hours lost it equates to about 260,000 full time positions. Which means in reality we are not doing that well at all as far as employment is concerned.

Full article here: http://www.theage.com.au/national/bu...0306-pptm.html

Petals

People have been under employed here for years now and they do not appear in the unemployment statistics at all. Where my daughter works everyone wants more hours.

Deancm

I haven't known under employment the way it is now though. When the GFC hit instead of laying people off, they reduced hours instead. Has the same effect only creates a false economy where (un)employment is concerned.

ABCDiamond

Bureau of Statistics figures show hundreds of thousands of workers are being forced to work fewer hours than they would like.

The average number of hours worked per week is now at a record low of 31.9, down from a peak of 33.4 in July 2008.

ABCDiamond

However, the same source quotes the following for Full time workers:

2009 41.2 Average weekly hours – Full-time
2008 41.1 Average weekly hours – Full-time
2007 41.4 Average weekly hours – Full-time

Part time workers may have dropped more ?

Amazulu

I think this will be an issue in most western countries. Economy is improving well so this problem should start to resolve itself.

renth

Most people on this forum are underemployed, they should be working yet, like me, are on here dribbling shit.

Amazulu

yeah, 'working' is the wrong word for what I do, 'attending' would be more approriate.

ozzieeagle

Very true.... Although surely it's the same in the UK ?