By Cimara Pearce,
BRIMBANK and Melton Shire residents have a high risk of losing their jobs during the economic crisis, according to a new study released last week.
The Employment Vulnerability Index, which was compiled by Griffith University and the Centre for Full Employment and Equity, identified suburbs that had higher proportions of the types of jobs believed to be most at risk.
Brimbank fared poorly in the report with Cairnlea, Deer Park, Kings Park, Delahey, Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Albanvale, St Albans, Sunshine North, Sunshine West and Taylors Lakes all listed as being at high risk of job losses.
Albion, Brooklyn, Ardeer, Kealba, Keilor East, Keilor North, Keilor Park, Hillside and Caroline Springs were also listed as having a medium threat.
Index co-creator Professor Bill Mitchell said industries like mining, manufacturing, construction, retail trade, accommodation, cafes, restaurants, finance and insurance were thought to be most at risk during the economic crisis.
Brimbank City Council Mayor Troy Atanasovski said the results of the study were not surprising.
“The identification of some Brimbank suburbs as being vulnerable to job losses during the current economic crisis, (as) according to the report recently released by the University of Newcastle, is consistent with the fact that unemployment is higher in parts of the west compared with the rest of Melbourne,” he said.
Cr Atanasovski said he had met with other Western Region Council Mayors and CEOs and the Federal Government last week to advocate for more investment in the west.
He said he had asked for more funding for the next stage of the Sunshine Hospital and for the Victorian Transport Plan initiatives, to help stimulate the economy and create local jobs.
The index proposes a job guarantee that would tackle job losses by eradicating the current dole system and paying a minimum wage to anyone who is willing to work.
Under the scheme – which would be funded by the Federal Government and managed through local councils – retrenched workers would do community-service-type work in infrastructure, environmental care services and community development.
“There’s massive unmet need in all those public areas which could be a perfect vehicle to create localised jobs targeted at the areas where you’ll have the most impact,” Prof Mitchell said. “This is a perfect chance to guarantee anyone who doesn’t have a job, or has lost their job, to go in and do this work.”
“When the private sector starts growing, they’ll easily be able to buy the labour back because they’ll pay them higher wages.”
LeadWest CEO Anton Mayer said he did not have an opinion on the employment guarantee proposal but firmly believed that people needed real jobs and real opportunities.
“I would think it would be better to spend money on major infrastructure, looking at long term benefits and creating job opportunities for people to work in productive things such as broadband network, building schools,” Mr Mayer said.
“This global financial crisis will pass, and we should be investing in infrastructure that makes us better, smarter and more productive when the economy turns around.”
