Australia’s job market has become “dismal”, with jobseekers facing intense competition driven by rapid immigration, an overemphasis on university qualifications and a shortage of open positions, according to a recruitment specialist.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the unemployment rate climbed from 4.5 per cent in July to 4.6 per cent in August, marking its highest point since the Covid pandemic.
The number of unemployed people rose by 28,200 during the month, reaching 722,900.
Tammie Ballis, a leading recruiter who runs Realistic Careers in Sydney, said she believed “too much immigration too quickly” had added to the surge of applicants competing for the same jobs.
“We have seen too many people enter the job market in a short amount of time, and it is unfair to both immigrants and Australians,” she told the Daily Mail on Thursday.
“Hundreds of people are now applying for the same jobs.
“Employers simply cannot work through every application. That means even candidates with the right experience may be overlooked because of the sheer number of applicants.”
Many jobseekers already hold university degrees, but Ms Ballis said some were struggling because they lacked hands-on experience.
Recruitment specialist Tammie Ballis has described Australia’s employment market as “dismal”, citing fierce competition, an overreliance on university degrees and a shortage of vacancies
“Young people are leaving university believing they are qualified when employers do not necessarily see them that way. Employers want experience,” Ms Ballis said.
“In my opinion, unless a degree is required to work in a profession such as medicine or engineering, TAFE and practical experience are better options.
“Going to university after gaining a solid amount of work experience is the better path.”
Ms Ballis also argued that uncertainty in the employment market was encouraging workers to remain in their current roles, further reducing the number of vacancies.
“People know the job market is tough, so they are staying where they are. That means less movement and fewer jobs becoming available,” she said.
“The economy is not performing strongly either, and companies have introduced recruitment freezes — a complete pause on hiring.
“In some cases, when an employee leaves, the company may decide not to replace them.”
Although the challenging employment conditions are affecting Australians across the workforce, Ms Ballis said young university graduates were among the groups facing the greatest difficulties.
Ms Ballis, who operates Realistic Careers in Sydney, said she believed the rapid arrival of too many immigrants had intensified competition among applicants for the same positions
“Young people are turning to retail and gig-economy work to make ends meet,” the recruiter said.
“Those seeking to start new careers are finding it particularly difficult because they are competing against candidates with years of experience.”
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To deal with the struggling job market, Ms Ballis encouraged employees to stay in their role unless it was ‘unbearable’.
‘You’re in the best position if you are comfortable and can tolerate your job,’ she said in a TikTok.
‘You can then look for other jobs slowly, because you’re not desperate, not in a hurry, can take your time and can apply effectively.’
Ms Ballis added that those who opted to rush into a new role could ultimately regret the move.
‘I wouldn’t be jumping on anything too soon because you might not like where you’re going and you can’t go to your old job,’ she said.
She also reminded workers that newer employees could have their employment terminated first when redundancies are announced.
Ms Ballis also said many workers choose to stay in their jobs due to the difficult job market, resulting in fewer vacancies
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For those looking for their next job opportunity, Ms Ballis said there were a few things to remember.
‘Have an easy-to-read CV, ring the phone number on the job advertisement, reach out to recruitment agencies to get contract work if possible and network,’ she told the Daily Mail.
‘If you don’t have the experience required, start from the bottom and work your way up.
‘It is taking longer to get a job in this market, and it will probably get worse.
‘You are just a CV until you get an interview.’
Many Australians agreed with Ms Ballis’s assessment of the job market, with some sharing their own struggles with finding work.
‘I’ve applied for about 40 jobs and only had one interview, but wasn’t happy with the pay, so just staying where I am. Australia is in trouble,’ one said.
Another added: ‘I was sworn at and could not tolerate it any more, but held on for dear life for all the reasons you mentioned. However, mental health does have a price.’
‘The country is cooked,’ a third said.