UPDATE: A shocking new report reveals that Australia is experiencing a severe entry-level job crisis, with an alarming 39 jobseekers competing for every available vacancy. Released on October 26, 2025, Anglicare Australia’s latest Jobs Availability Snapshot highlights the devastating impact on the nation’s most vulnerable workers.
The report indicates that entry-level jobs are vanishing at the fastest rate in a decade. The findings underscore a labor market increasingly hostile to older Australians, individuals with disabilities, and those lacking formal qualifications. As entry-level positions comprise just 11% of total job vacancies—marking their lowest share in ten years—those who need work the most are being left behind.
Anglicare Australia’s executive director, Kasy Chambers, emphasizes that the current job market is failing to provide realistic opportunities for those in need. She states, “These are older Australians, people with disabilities, or people who didn’t finish school. They are looking for jobs they can actually do, but those jobs are disappearing.”
The latest analysis reveals that 25 of the jobseekers in this fierce competition face significant barriers to employment, the highest ratio recorded in the report’s history. Chambers points out that despite the determination of these individuals, many are left stranded as industries shrink and suitable roles diminish.
“People need a fair go and a system that helps, not hinders, their efforts,” she urges. Chambers criticizes Australia’s employment services model, which she claims continues to penalize jobseekers while benefiting private providers. “Billions in taxpayer funding is being directed into a system focused more on compliance than results,” she adds.
This urgent crisis necessitates immediate action. Chambers calls for an overhaul of the current employment services model, labeling it a “failed experiment” that has exacerbated long-term unemployment. She urges the government to increase Centrelink payments, arguing that no one should be forced into poverty when employment opportunities are scarce.
“The people we work with every day are ready to contribute. What they need is a fair go and a system that helps, not hinders, their efforts,” Chambers asserts. The solution, she believes, lies in providing individuals with genuine opportunities and the financial stability to pursue them.
As Australia grapples with this mounting crisis, the call for comprehensive reform grows louder. The implications for the workforce and the economy are profound, as more Australians find themselves trapped in a cycle of unemployment and poverty.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as this situation develops. The urgency to address the needs of vulnerable jobseekers in Australia has never been clearer.
