The latest labour force figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show an increase to the unemployment rate, and highlight the persistent challenges of underemployment and low wages growth under Turnbull.

Unemployment has increased to 5.5 per cent, comparable to the peak of the Global Financial Crisis.

There are now 730,600 unemployed Australians, with 37,800 more people lining the unemployment queue than when the Abbott-Turnbull Government was first elected.

Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann MP, said the persistent underemployment problem was reflected in the increase in part time jobs exceeding the increase in full time jobs in December 2017.

“There are almost 1.1 million underemployed Australians looking for more work, and underemployed workers in Ipswich and the Somerset Region are finding it increasingly difficult to move into full time employment,

“Coupled with the number of unemployed, there is a large, underutilised workforce in Ipswich and the Somerset Region.”

With insecure work, record-low wages growth, and skyrocketing cost of living pressures, workers and the unemployed in Ipswich and the Somerset Region are feeling the pinch.

“Rather than come up with policy initiatives to cope with these challenges, Turnbull supported reducing around 700,000 workers’ take home pay by cutting penalty rates.”