The New England has one of the highest take-ups of youth employment subsidies in the country, according to new government data released this week.

 

New figures show the Federal Government has assisted 10,000 long-term unemployed young Australians get off welfare and into work through the Youth Bonus Wage subsidy component of the Youth Jobs PaTH program.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said in his electorate alone there have been 171 youth wage agreements signed and delivered.  

 

He said the Youth Jobs PaTH program is delivering significant outcomes by getting young people off welfare, into work and ensuring they are positive contributors to the economy and their local community.

 

“This government believes the best form of welfare is a job,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“In just over nine months, 10,000 young people across Australia who were previously reliant on taxpayer-funded welfare are now in gainful employment thanks to the 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.

 

Mr Joyce said the program is producing real results in the New England electorate.

 

“Since the beginning of the year, there have been 171 young Australians just in our area who have transitioned from welfare to work through the Youth Wage Subsidy,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“New England has one of the highest take ups of the subsidy of any federal seat in the country.

 

“It’s a great result for the community, putting our youth in jobs and helping out the employers at the same time.

 

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

 

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,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“This is in stark contrast to the Labor Party, who oppose every measure we have implemented to create jobs and get young Australians the skills and experience they need to get off welfare.”

 

“The Turnbull/Joyce 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: employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path