New research from Roy Morgan into the impact of the ‘Coronavirus Crisis’ onAustralia’s employment market shows over two-thirds of working Australians(68%) have had ‘a change to their employment’ due to the pandemic according tointerviews with 1,444 Australians aged 14+ conducted over the last week.
Australians in the workforce were asked: “As a result of the CoronavirusCrisis, have you experienced any of the following employment changes.” Somepeople reported several changes to their working conditions since theCoronavirus like being stood down, having reduced hours and working from home.This reflects the changing nature of the situation for companies and employeesas they navigate the crisis.
The impacts on workers include:
- 3.8 million who say their ‘work hours have been reduced’ (25% of working Australians);
- 2.7 million who say they have been ‘stood down for a period of time’ (18%);
- 2.5 million who say they have ‘had an increase in their work hours’ (16%);
- 2.4 million who say they have ‘not had any work offered’ (16%);
- 1.6 million who say they are now ‘working from home’ (10%);
- 1.4 million who say they have ‘had their pay reduced for the same number of work hours’ (9%);
- 670,000 who say they have been ‘made redundant’ (4%); and
- 1.8 million (11%) who cite ‘some other change to their employment’ such as being put on enforced leave, changes in work rostering, social distancing measures at work, split shifts, an increase in responsibility, a halt to business growth, precautions put in place at work, being in a vulnerable group for COVID-19 so not being able to take work and an inability to see clients face-to-face.
Analysing the impact on employment due to the ‘Coronavirus Crisis’ by size oforganisation shows smaller businesses, including sole traders, have been themost heavily impacted by the Coronavirus Crisis – three-quarters of soletraders have been impacted.
For those working in organisations with 1,000 employees or more a baremajority of 54% have had their employment impacted in some way by theCoronavirus Crisis (46% have not).
Industries which have felt the least impact from the Coronavirus Crisisinclude Agriculture, Wholesale trade, Transport & Storage, Construction,Electricity, Gas & Water and Public Administration & Defence.
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says the Coronavirus has had a huge impact onthe Australian economy and employment market over the last month. Roy Morgan’sMarch unemployment estimates showed 1.4 million Australians were forced out ofwork in the latter half of March in response to Government restrictions:
“A staggering 10.5 million Australian workers have had their employmentsituation changed by the impact of the Coronavirus Crisis including 3.8million with work hours reduced, 2.7 million stood down, 2.4 million who havenot had any work offered, 1.4 million had their pay reduced for the samenumber of work hours and 670,000 made redundant.
“Some of the impacts aren’t as negative for an employment situation as thoseabove with 2.5 million Australians having an increase in work hours and 1.6million now working from home because of the Coronavirus.
“The impact has hit sole traders particularly hard. Three-quarters of soletraders have had their employment impacted due to the Coronavirus Crisis. Incomparison only about half (54%) of those working at large organisations withover 1,000 employees have had their employment situation impacted.
“The disparate impact the Coronavirus is having on different types oforganisations underlines why it is so important that Government stimulus tosupport those in need is properly targeted and calibrated to derive the mostbenefit. It also shows Governments must clearly outline a plan to emerge fromthe pandemic and transition the private sector back to a sustainable, andprofitable, ‘new normal’ in the months ahead.”
As a result of the Coronavirus crisis, has your employment status beenimpacted? Ranked by most important choice nominated.
Source : Roy Morgan multi-mode survey of Australians conducted on theweekend of April 17-19, 2020, n=912. _ Base : Working Australians aged14+. Respondents could nominate multiple employment changes._
Note : Some people reported several changes to their working conditionssince the Coronavirus like being stood down, and having reduced hours andworking from home. This reflects the changing nature of the situation forcompanies and employees as they navigate the crisis. For the analysis in thegraph above, people have been coded as the most important choice.
As a result of the Coronavirus crisis, has your employment status beenimpacted? By size of organisation.
Source : Roy Morgan multi-mode survey of Australians conducted on theweekend of April 17-19, 2020, n=912. _ Base : Working Australians aged14+. Respondents could nominate multiple employment changes._
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