We Need A Job-Matching System That Works For Everyone

Jobs Services Australia (JSA) says it’s clear the national job-matching system isn’t working for everyone. Funded for $5.52 billion over four years, contracts for service providers will be retendered in 2015 and the Commonwealth is considering options.

Some Of The Concerns

JSA acknowledges:

“There is widespread concern about whether the current system can achieve better outcomes for young people, new Australians, older workers and people who are experiencing homelessness..

Meanwhile, compliance creep has affected front-line efficiency, with employment consultants now spending around half their time on administration”.

Some Criticisms Being Addressed By JSA

The current system is said to be:

“too bureaucratic, with a confusing multitude of rules that results in front-line staff spending too much time on administrative tasks instead of helping clients.

Employers complain that the system is too supply-driven, with their skills demands not sufficiently met.

Education and other service providers complain that it’s difficult to collaborate with JSA providers. And the jobseekers say that JSA does not meet their needs..

Only about 7 per cent of employers directly approach providers to recruit workers. The system is too complicated to navigate and employers are often offered workers ‘wrong for the job’…

This is because JSA providers often do not take the time (because of inadequate incentives and/or resources) to develop a relationship with the employer so they understand the employer’s needs. Jobseekers that are not work-ready are sent to apply for vacancies with insufficient pre-employment preparation…

For this reason, companies such as Coles and Woolworths have developed their own (different) pre-employment programs where jobseekers earn the right to a job vacancy.”

Employers Need JSA Assistance For Good Employment Outcomes

The Business Council says employers do not always have experience in working with disadvantaged jobseekers. They would like some assistance from JSA providers, such as:

• post-recruitment support including mentoring
• physical and technological adjustments to the workplace for the disabled

Let’s avoid politicking and get this right – overseas models/academia?