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Construction crews grab largest share of JobKeeper payments

Construction businesses account for the largest share of businesses getting JobKeeper payments, with professional services such as engineers and architects close behind.

Jul 10, 2020, updated Jul 10, 2020

Queensland job vacancies are at an all-time high. (Photo: AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Queensland job vacancies are at an all-time high. (Photo: AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Combined, those two industries make up three in 10 businesses covered by the wage subsidy and almost a quarter of workers.

Treasury data shows 140,138 construction companies with 348,077 workers were eligible for JobKeeper in early June.

There were 130,052 professional, technical and scientific services businesses with 396,424 employees – the largest number of any sector – receiving the wage subsidy.

Both sectors have lost about one in 20 jobs since March.

But with Thursday’s loan approvals figures showing a record drop in housing finance in May, there are fears housing construction will fall off a cliff once JobKeeper ends, and more jobs will be lost.

The arts and hospitality sectors, which have been the hardest hit by coronavirus shutdowns, made up just over 10 per cent of all businesses covered by the scheme.

About one in eight workers getting the wage subsidies work in these areas.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the hospitality sector has shed nearly three in 10 jobs since the crisis began in March, and the arts sector almost a quarter.

Labor and others have criticised the JobKeeper scheme allowing many casual workers in these industries to fall through the gaps.

Shadow Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers says the numbers, combined with the return to tough restrictions in Melbourne amid community outbreaks of coronavirus, make it vital for the government to clarify the future of JobKeeper beyond its scheduled end in September.

“The Morrison Government could better target and taper it, but shouldn’t just turn off the tap when businesses are struggling with new restrictions,” Chalmers said.

“Having introduced support for the economy too narrowly and too slowly, Australians need to know that the government has a more comprehensive plan to support long-term growth and job creation.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he understood from his talks with the Federal Government further assistance would be announced later this month.

“The Prime Minister and the Treasurer … confirmed ‘hardship’ will continue to drive the Commonwealth Government’s response,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash will launch a new small business campaign on Friday encouraging Australians to shop locally.

WHO IS GETTING JOBKEEPER?

* 896,004 entities all up

* 3,307,025 employees

WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES?

* 358,403 sole traders

* 342,219 companies

* 136,820 trusts

* 58,190 partnerships

* 366 others

STATE BY STATE

* NSW – 310,830 entities

* VIC – 245,401 entities

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* QLD – 171,136 entities

* WA – 85,000 entities

* SA – 53,219 entities

* TAS – 14,936 entities

* ACT – 10,699 entities

* NT – 4777 entities

WHICH SECTORS?

* Construction – 140,138 entities with 348,077 employees

* Professional, scientific and technical services – 130,052 entities with 396,424 employees

* Health care and social assistance – 81,082 entities with 385,679 employees

* Accommodation and food services – 58,620 entities with 313,528 employees

* Arts and recreation – 37,640 entities with 129,104 employees

WHO ISN’T GETTING JOBKEEPER?

* Accommodation and food services shed 29 per cent of jobs between mid-March and the end of May

* Creative and performing arts shed 31 per cent of jobs

* Sports and recreation services shed 32.5 per cent of jobs

* Construction shed six per cent of jobs

* Professional, scientific and technical services shed 4.4 per cent of jobs

* Health care and social assistance shed 4.7 per cent of jobs (7.8 per cent of allied health workers)

(Sources: Treasury, Australian Bureau of Statistics)

-AAP

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