On the front line: employment services staff perspectives on working with mature age jobseekers

The second of three reports from a study exploring how Australia’s jobactive employment services might better assist mature age jobseekers.

At a glance

Jobactive commenced as the new version of Australia’s employment services in July 2015. It was designed to increase the success rate of the services and reduce the costs for providers. Under this new contract, however, jobactive providers are expected to do more with less. As caseloads increased, there is greater focus on outcome payments and performance. High caseloads are one factor putting increased pressure on jobactive staff.

Dive deeper

Analysis of interviews with 32 jobactive staff shows that employment services staff face multiple challenges. They have to manage the demands of the services contract, including monitoring mutual obligation requirements; an increasingly competitive labour market; and jobseekers who need considerable help to find suitable decent work.

This study was funded by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation – Eldon & Anne Foote Trust (Innovation Grant 2015).