This is the place to have your say about local issues. Whether traffic and carparking woes, overdevelopment, high-rise, violence on our streets, the music our kids are listening to, we want to hear your views. Is the Coast full of dole bludgers?
| You!
Who wants to work when you can surf?
The lure of the beach is being blamed for the higher-than-average unemployment rate in coastal areas as the federal government moves to tighten up welfare rules.
Federal workplace relations minister Joe Hockey says tougher measures may be needed to encourage people living near beaches into work, and it is likely the Sunshine Coast will be one of the coastal areas fast-tracked for work for the dole.
As of March, the Coast electorate of Fairfax had an overall unemployment rate of 6.2% – higher than the national average of 4.3%.
Noosa councillor Bob Jarvis is one businessman who agrees too many people move here for the good life and aren’t prepared to do a decent day’s work.
“We’ve had real trouble over the years getting people for jobs,’’ said Mr Jarvis, whose family is in the motor trade business.
“It’s hard to find people with a decent work ethic who will stick to a job.’’
However, some say that a lack of good public transport on the Coast makes it tough for job-seekers to find work, while others lament the lack of job opportunities.
One caller told talkback radio this morning that his wife had applied for numerous jobs in the accounting industry, but most employers had not even had the courtesy to acknowledge her application.
Do you think the Coast is full of “board-shorted bludgers” or do you think the claim is unfair? What do you think can be done to encourage unemployed people back to work?
If you are unemployed, what obstacles have you faced in trying to find a job?
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Recent Comments
He sends resumes out, fills out application forms not one company or person wants to know, so to say that people want to surf rather than work is unbelievable. Maybe the government should look at the agencies etc that are on the coast that do not even have the decency to ring when you are unsuccessful and conveniently lose resumes, each time you ring to ask about the progress of an application.
I think that after a while a lot of people would give up. My husband is still trying though and after being an office manager previously has received a call back from woolworths - the one and only call he has had in 6 weeks and applying for around 20 jobs.
However, there is no excuse for the shabby way in which some employers treat job seekers who really do want to work, like the example in the comment above. The respect thing has to work both ways.
In a big city, I would be snapped up in a second and I'm hearing that in Melbourne, people with my skills are being offered gifts just to turn up for interviews.
My problem is I have family commitments here. Whatever my personal views of the Sunshine Coast (they aren't good), I've accepted that I have to stay here.
The sunshine coast has had very poor business support, bad business growth and those with any skills would be more likely to move elsewhere than suffer this for such little pay. The thing is, they do. I blame the councils for this wholeheartedly.
Most jobs I have applied for end up being nothing more than garage based or small businesses.
Its easy to be a manager on the coast, all you have to do is accept running everything for very little pay. Due to the lack of money going around, its one con, after another, after another.
Most people I know are either Unemployed or, working ridiculously long hours and suffering large bouts of depression. What is this saying?
This is also good reason why there are tonnes of husband and wife - not for profits. If you look into it, not for profits CAN make money and pay a wage.
Husband and wife usually pays themselves a wage, enjoying government grants whilst cashing in on mutual obligation.
I know of one not-for-profit which has received over $200k in the past year from government grants and barely services anymore than 10 people per week.
The past ten jobs I was n ended up being cons. The one that was real, the company liquidated because it borrowed more than it could pay back.
The welfare system enjoys banging on about how Unemployed people are a bunch of bludgers. It makes for a great whinge (especially retired pensioners). Now, its very easy to blame the unemployed people because they usually don't fight back. In fact, I think its gutless and this Minister is playing to the people, not the problem.
Why do we have hundreds of employment agencies when there are so few jobs? Why is it that when training credits where introducted, a popular training organisation raised its prices of their courses to match that $600 (I won't mention which!) ? For $600, I'd expect a University qualified course, not a six week course.
Belting unemployed people on the Sunshine Coast is not going to make up for the incompetence and lack of action towards business growth.
While I have been working for 20 years, I have never, ever had a problem getting a job. Frankly, I'm usually snapped up pretty quickly. I have two degrees, am confident, flexible and show plenty of initiative. I have earned great set of skills that would apply across many sectors. My applications are concise, polished and showcase my abilities.
There are, of course, many jobs that require specific experience that I just don't have (yet). But for many of those roles where I can see myself working, I don't get a reply to my application, and when I do hear from an employer it's weeks after, or never.
It takes but a moment to shoot off an email to say 'thanks for your application, we'll get back to you within the next fortnight'. Courtesy and consideration cost nothing.
Perhaps employers are looking for too many specifics and missing the potential and proven ability that many job seekers possess. My CV clearly demonstrates my work ethic and willingness to take on new and challenging roles. What else could an employer possibly want?
As a resident that has been here 12 years and worked , I too am sick and tired of applying for jobs and not getting any replies. I have applied for 8 jobs just today, and I bet i don't even get a reply from any of the supposed government workplace agencies or the companies I have applied with. Not even an acknoledgement that I have applied.
And when you do get a job, you always expected to do extra time for no money, and the lousy money paid only covers the cost of spiralling rents, leaving bugger all to try and pay any of lifes necessity bills, and you are expected to think yourself lucky.
I am sick of the government kicking people like myself who are desperate for work and can't even get a look in.
Wish I had been a politician and got all the benefits normal people never get.
If you arent getting interviews, then have a look at the applications you send out... perhaps they arent as great as they could be. There are plenty of support services available too you that can help you address that.
Finally.... apply for 10 jobs a week... dont complain, I made my jobseekers apply for 10 a day. There are more than 1000 pages in the yellow pages, when you have called every business on every page... then you can slow down.
You're right Nathan...!!!
2) Employers must be getting fed up with unsuitable applicants.
But as boyfromoz suggests..apply for 10 jobs a day.
3) I have a degree but guess what, I'm unemployable on the sunshine coast in my chosen career because employers want 2-3 years industry experience.
I don't surf, drink, gamble or do drugs. Totally relate psignosis.
4) Recently I recieved confirmation that I got the job. Two days later I got the bad news that someone within the company has decided to relocated from Melbourne.
I could go on to another 10 points but like to add a final comment made to me by an agent....Maybe you just have bad luck....!!! How encouraging....!!!