7 September 2004
The number of first-year university computer science enrolments has dropped to the levels they were
in the early 1990s, according to
Computerworld magazine. ICT enrolments plummeted after the
dotcom crash in 2000 and the magazine says that the lack of skilled graduates coming through now may hold
back the industry's recovery.
Finding volunteer workers is becoming very tough, according to the NZ Federation of Family
Budgeting Services. Executive officer Raewyn Neilsen: "We are losing volunteers and really struggling to
replace them on a national basis. People just seem to be working longer hours, more than one job, and
don't have the time to volunteer."
Qantas Airlines' 4,000 flight attendants threaten to strike in mid-December, when the company plans
to move 400 flight attendant jobs to London.
8 September 2004
A boat-building company that was part of Minister of Economic Development Jim Anderton's
"jobs machine" has not created the number of jobs it forecast. Sovereign Yachts predicted it would have
350 staff by the end of 2003, but currently employs 75 staff and about 20-25 people employed by
subcontractors.
There is a distinct correlation between employment status and suicide, according to the
Australian Medical Association. President Bill Glasson says that in periods of high unemployment suicide
rates have soared. Glasson: "In our society, men still typically see themselves as breadwinners and
providers. When they cannot fulfill this role due to unemployment or underemployment, their self-esteem suffers."
9 September 2004
The Australian economy lost 6,600 jobs last month. It was the third drop in four months over
which Australia lost a total of 39,800 jobs. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.7% because
fewer people were looking for work.
The Reserve Bank of NZ raises interest rates to 6.25%, the fifth rate increase this year.
The Alcan aluminium refinery expansion will create 1,700 construction and then 120 permanent jobs
in Gove in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Delta Airlines in the US will cut as many as 7,000 jobs in an attempt to avoid having to file for
bankruptcy protection.
Westpac Bank's own social impact report - How We Measure
Up - finds that its executive males earn over $55,000 on average more than its executive females. Westpac's male managers earn on
average $14,673 more than women managers.
Volkswagen says as many as 30,000 jobs - about 17% of its Germany workforce - will be cut if
it cannot reach agreements with unions to freeze wages and gain other concessions from workers.
14 September 2004
The Crown Solicitor has been asked to prosecute 32 groups that allegedly invented fake projects
to gain grants of $150,000 through the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS). A
spokesperson for the Department of Internal Affairs, which administers COGS, says they believe they
followed correct procedures in giving out the money but "there have been unlawful acts taking place" and
the department is the victim. COGS distributes $12 million per year.
The Department of Labour is setting up a Pay and Employment and Equity Unit that is "committed
to improving pay and employment equity in the state sector".
15 September 2004
Figures obtained under the Official Information Act show 560 people have been on
unemployment-related benefits for more than 10 years. Five of those have been on the dole for 19 to 20 years.
National MP Katherine Rich believes there would be many more people who have been on welfare for
a total greater amount of time but are not in the statistics because they have had small stints in training
or work.
Winz says that less than 1% of the people on an unemployment benefit have been collecting it for
more than 10 years. Deputy director Ray Smith says it is harder to find work for some people because
some have health, drug or alcohol problems, poor social or literacy skills, little work experience or
cannot speak English well.
Most employers in the US say that about one-third of their workers don't meet the writing
requirements of their positions, according to a survey by the College Board. Companies say solid writing skills
are among the most sought-after skills, particularly when hiring and promoting salaried staff.
18 September 2004
Eastman Kodak, the world's biggest maker of photographic film, says it will close a plant in
Victoria, Australia, cutting 600 jobs. The closure is part of the company's plan to slash its worldwide
workforce by at least 12,000 over three years.
Italy's beleaguered state-owned airline Alitalia will cut 2,500 ground crew and freeze pay rates in
an effort to keep the company operating. It is also shedding 289 pilots and cutting pilot pay by one-third.
20 September 2004
The Community Employment Group is officially dis-established.
The government announced this week that the Community Employment Group (CEG) within
the Department of Labour has been "dis-established". This agency has been the main channel for
allocating $23 million in government grants to community organisations each year. Recently, the agency has
been under the political spotlight after controversial funding decisions surrounding its Social
Entrepreneur Scheme (see The Jobs Letter No. 204). The main points from recent announcements include: