Thread by @leonora_risse

Australia's latest labour force numbers paint a glowing picture, with employment and hours worked at record highs

But this doesn't give the full picture of workforce realities

Looking closer, it's Healthcare & Social Assistance fuelling this job growth

#ausecon #economy #jobs

This is unsurprising, given we're in a pandemic.

But it's worrying, because we know workers in this industry are being pushed to the brink.

Soaring growth in Healthcare & Social Assistance jobs includes almost 12,000 more workers who are now clocking up 50+ hours weekly

Shortfalls in the workforce capacity of Australia's Healthcare & Social Assistance sector is illustrated in job vacancy numbers.

The sector is currently battling a pandemic with 60,000 unfilled vacancies.

That's more than double pre-pandemic levels.

#COVID19Au #ausecon #auspol

These challenges sit within the broader issue of this workforce not being adequately remunerated, valued and recognised for their importance to begin with.

Average #earnings in Healthcare & Social Assistance remain below the workforce-wide average.

Economic logic prescribes that, when you need more of something (say, more #healthcare workers to fulfil critical job vacancies and deliver the essential services you are responsible for), you should pay them more and avoid pushing your existing workers to the brink.

#ausecon

If economic logic isn't enough to convince governments to invest more in our care workforce, we can only assume that something else must stand in the way.

The gender composition of this workforce might have something to do with it.

linkedin.com/pulse/australi…

#careeconomy #auspol