The ABS comes up with the unemployment figures. I have just checked and established that if a person works just one hour a week they are classed as employed. What sort of system is that? It would be more meaningful to class as unemployed anyone of working age who earn no more than the equivalent of the Newstart or jobseeker rate. That imo would give a truer indication of the unemployment rate that takes account acute under-employment. Treating someone that works one hour a week or say even 5 or 6 hours a week as being employed is ridiculous as they would be receiving no more than the Centrelink rate. Given the minimum hourly wage is about $ 20 how is it plausible to not include people on small hours in the unemployment figures.
Its baffling and probably the reason Morgan Polling consistently used to claim the true unemployment rate is at least double the ABS published rate. Also, unless I am mistaken those that simply give up looking for a job but don't qualify for Centrelink due to assets etc are also not regarded as unemployed. Thats another distortion. They may have given up because there is no convenient suitable work available to them.
"The ABS considers a person to be employed if they are undertaking paid work of at least one hour per week, or they are working in a family business or on a farm."
