The COVID-19 pandemic had extraordinary health and economic implications globally and in Australia. It evolved rapidly and was characterised by enormous uncertainty, particularly in the early months of 2020.

JobKeeper was a central pillar of the policy response in Australia. It was a wage subsidy and income support program announced on 30 March 2020. It was the third instalment in a series of economic support packages introduced in the space of 3 weeks during March 2020 as the crisis was unfolding rapidly. JobKeeper provided support to around 4 million individuals – around one-third of pre-pandemic employment – and one million businesses.

JobKeeper had 3 objectives: 

1. to support business and job survival;
2. to keep employees connected to their employers; and
3. to provide income support to individuals. 

It enabled eligible workers at eligible firms to receive a payment from the government through their employer. For stood down workers, the payment was an income support payment; for others, it was a wage subsidy. JobKeeper remained in place until 28 March 2021. Modifications to policy design, including changes to eligibility criteria and the payment rate and structure, were made following a three-month review.

The evaluation is both a process and an impact evaluation. The process component of the evaluation relies heavily on the audit report, Administration of the JobKeeper Scheme but also draws on other information. To assess impacts, the evaluation team has attempted to measure the outcomes of JobKeeper where possible and compare these with the policy’s objectives and intended outcomes. 

Evidence is then combined and synthesised into findings. Principles to consider for any similar future payments or programs are also reported. 

Sources of information and evidence used in the evaluation include:

• Previous reports and reviews completed on the JobKeeper Payment.
• Formal submissions made through a public consultation process.
• Interviews and conversations with stakeholders such as business groups, unions, academics, international peers and senior public servants who designed and worked on JobKeeper.
• Academic papers and literature on JobKeeper and similar programs introduced overseas.
• Analysis of program data and other data sources.