BRAYBROOK residents have a high risk of losing their job during the economic crisis, a new study has found.
The Employment Vulnerability Index, which was compiled by Griffith University and the Centre of Full Employment and Equity, has identified suburbs that have higher proportions of the types of jobs thought to be most at risk in the current economic climate.
Braybrook was assessed as one of 100 high-risk suburbs in Victoria.
Maidstone was given a medium to high risk assessment, while Footscray, Maribyrnong, Seddon, South Kingsville, Yarraville and West Footscray were given a medium to low risk of job losses.
Index co-creator Professor Bill Mitchell said industries like mining, manufacturing, construction, retail trade, accommodation, cafes, restaurants, finance and insurance were thought to be most at risk during the economic crisis.
Prof Mitchell said neighbouring suburbs with similar demographics could vary wildly in their risk assessment because of the numbers employed in certain industries.
“If you had to compare Braybrook and Maidstone, there’s more low-skilled areas in Braybrook than there are in Maidstone,” Prof Mitchell said.
“Maidstone only has 14.7 per cent of workers employed in manufacturing, which is slightly above the Victorian average of 12.6 per cent, whereas if you look at Braybrook it has 22.1 per of its workforce employed in manufacturing. It makes a big difference.”
The index has proposed an Employment Guarantee that would tackle job losses during the economic crisis by abolishing the current dole system and paying a minimum wage to anyone that is willing to work.
Under the scheme – which would be funded by the Federal Government and managed through local councils – retrenched workers would do community service-type work in infrastructure, environmental care services and community development.
“Across our city, the burdens of recession are very unevenly spread. The best way to target job loss is to create jobs,” Prof Mitchell said.
“There’s massive unmet need in all those public areas which could be a perfect vehicle to create localised jobs targeted at the areas where you’ll have the most impact.
“This is a perfect chance to guarantee anyone who doesn’t have a job, or has lost their job, to go in and do this work.”
