Our employment services system helps job seekers find work. It has been doing so for 20 years. The current model, jobactive, has placed more than 1.1 million Australians into jobs since 2015. But, we can do better. Much better.

We can do better for employers — very few use the system. We can do better for the long-term unemployed — one in five job seekers have been in the system for more than five years. The employment services system was designed in a world without smartphones, Google or SEEK. It was designed for a labour market where entry level jobs were more common, part-time work less common and only half of Australian workers held post school education. We are in a different world. It’s time to do better.

Australians want to work. Listening to how job seekers want help is crucial. Businesses want to hire. Listening to what employers need is crucial. Employment services providers know what it will take to improve the system — again, we must listen. The panel has listened. Over 1,400 job seekers, employers, employment services providers and community groups told us what they need. They need a system which reflects how they work today. A system which doesn’t waste their time. A system which is easy to use. They need a system which works — for them.

Job seekers want to work. The community expects them to actively seek work. To support job seekers to meet this responsibility the system will offer them choice. Choice in their job plan. Choice of what they do to find work. Choice of provider so they can find work faster.