New research shows young people, recent migrants and women are among those hardest hit financially by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Those already on average or lower incomes were most likely to have suffered negative impacts to their employment during the pandemic, the study revealed.
Not-for-profit Good Shepherd commissioned the research that has tracked 6000 working Australians since April.
It found 60 per cent of working Australians on average or lower incomes have experienced unemployment change such as reduced hours, reduced pay, being stood down or made redundant due to COVID-19.
The major reasons why people are presenting are to do with COVID-19, unexpected expenses and family violence.
- John Clonan, Salvation Army Ballarat
Young people in the workforce were among those most financially impacted, with half of those aged 14 to 24 now economically vulnerable.
Migrants who have been in Australia less than five years were far more likely to have had their work negatively impacted, compared with longer term migrants and Australian-born.
Thirty-eight per cent of recent migrants are now economically vulnerable.
The research is reflected in Ballarat, according to local agencies.
Salvation Army Ballarat team leader John Clonan said two-and-a-half times more women than men aged 21 to 50 had sought assistance since COVID-19 hit.
He said the number of times people returned to the service for further assistance was also higher among females than men.
People on the disability support pension, JobSeeker payment and parenting payment were the three highest groups of people presenting to the service based on income.
"The major reasons why people are presenting are to do with COVID-19, unexpected expenses and family violence," he said.
Mr Clonan said 10 per cent of assistance provided at Salvation Army Ballarat was to people from ethnic backgrounds, including migrants and immigrants.
Good Shepherd chief executive Stella Avramopoulos said financial distress was now the most significant welfare issue in Australia despite government supports being offered during the pandemic.
"We need long-term, structural changes to the social welfare safety net, with new service models and cross-sector strategies," she said.
The research shows 47 per cent of people working in industries such as sport and recreation, entertainment and hospitality are now economically vulnerable.
Good Shepherd has rolled out a Household Relief Loans Without Interest program across Australia. Visit householdrelief.org.au/ for more information.
Emergency food relief is available at Salvation Army Ballarat.
- Economically vulnerable is defined as a couple with/without children or single with children and annual household income less than $100,000, or single without children and annual personal income less than $60,000.
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