Workforce Participation

Australia’s employment levels are the highest they have ever been. A strong economy has given an increasing number of Australians higher economic wellbeing and standards of living.

However, despite nearly 16 years of continuous growth, too many Australians – including the mature-aged, the disabled, carers and people in regional areas – continue to remain isolated from prosperity. Lack of employment is the single biggest predictor that an individual will be in the poorest 20 per cent of Australia’s population.

There is no better time for Australia to address barriers to employment and participation. Not only do we have the resources and scope to try new solutions to what have, in the past, been seen as intractable problems, there is also an economic imperative to increase participation.

Addressing barriers to workforce participation is not only a positive step for individuals who would otherwise remain isolated from the mainstream of the economy and community life. As the population ages, Australia needs to lift its workforce participation levels to offset the growing number of retirees and the increasing costs of health and aged care.

In 2007 the BCA convened a roundtable meeting of community, welfare, business and government leaders to discuss ways to increase the workforce particpation of Australia’s disadvantaged groups.

A subsequent paper, Engaging our Potential: The Economic and Social Necessity of Increasing Workforce Participation, was released as part of the BCA 2007 Annual Review. Download the paper here.

BCA Secretariat Contact: Dr Ruth Dunkin

• Engaging our Potential: The Economic and Social Necessity of Increasing Workforce Participation (paper)