Coalition Government’s PaTH assists 173 young people from Wide Bay off welfare and into work

14/10/2017

Coalition Government’s PaTH assists 173 young people from Wide Bay off welfare and into work

The Coalition Government’s Youth Bonus Wage subsidy component of the Youth Jobs PaTH program has assisted 173 long-term unemployed young people from Wide Bay move from welfare into work.

Federal Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien said the Youth Jobs PaTH program is delivering significant outcomes by transitioning young people off welfare, into work.

“The Coalition Government believes the best form of welfare is a job, and assisting people from welfare into work ensures they contribute to both the economy and their local community,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Breaking the cycle of welfare dependency by securing gainful employment has a profound effect on the individual and their family, benefitting the local economy and the community.

“In just over nine months, 10,000 young people across 150 electorates who were previously reliant on taxpayer-funded welfare are now in gainful employment through the successful Youth Jobs PaTH program.”

Employers are eligible for a Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy, under the ‘Hire’ element of the Youth Jobs PaTH program, if they employ a young person who has been unemployed for six months or more. Reforms to the subsidy were part of the Youth Jobs PaTH program announced in last year’s Budget and commenced on 1 January 2017.

In addition to the 10,000 young people hired through a Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy, the other elements of the PaTH program are also performing well. Across Australia, more than 9,300 young people have begun Employability Skills Training courses and more than 2,100 internships have commenced.

“The very positive results to date clearly show that young people are willing to put their hand up and have a go with the right support.  Every policy lever the Government has at its disposal is being utilised to promote growth, encourage investment, stimulate job creation and support business,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is in contrast to the Labor Party, which opposes every measure we have implemented to create jobs and give young Australians the skills and experience they need to find work.”

“The Coalition Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH program is giving long-term unemployed young people the skills and experience to increase their chances of being considered for a job, and is assisting employers to give young people a go.”

For further information about Youth Jobs PaTH visit www.employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path.