SVA have developed an evidence-informed perspective on what is required to increase the number of jobs that people experiencing disadvantage can access; to match disadvantaged jobseekers with the right employers, and to give employers and jobseekers the support and services they need to overcome barriers to sustainable employment. 

Recommendations:

Increase the number of jobs for disadvantaged jobseekers:

• Harnessing social procurement opportunities across government and big business will significantly increase demand for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs – which in turn will employ jobseekers requiring additional support in the labour market.
• To ensure there are enough appropriate opportunities for jobseekers with complex needs, we need to design specific financial supports to increase the size of Australia’s intermediary labour market.
• We need to educate those driving shared economy and emerging industry opportunities to ensure they include disadvantaged jobseekers

Improve the connection between disadvantaged jobseekers and jobs:

• To better meet the recruitment needs of large employers, an intermediary is needed to deeply engage and support them, work with them to design training, and connect them to appropriate candidates.
• The design of the welfare system needs to ensure appropriate incentives are in place so that disadvantaged jobseekers are encouraged and supported to participate in finding employment.

Enable jobseekers to overcome barriers to finding and remaining in work:

• The design of the government-funded employment and training system needs to ensure that those who are – or are at risk of being – long-term unemployed, receive individualised and wrap-around support to address employment, vocational and locational barriers.