In 2002 research was commissioned into whether people on the DPB were interested in looking for work. An external research company phoned 1,233 people on the DPB and asked about their level of interest and found;
Very interested 32%
Fairly interested 29%
Not that interested 19%
Not interested at all 17%
Unsure 3%
I had just come across this again and was musing about how honest the responses were. Perhaps it would be like my GP saying to me, how interested in cutting down your alcohol intake are you Lindsay? (She thinks I drink too much wine but in my defence my intake, apart from periods of total abstinence, doesn't go up and it doesn't go down).
The answer she wants is very interested. What she wants to hear is certainly being mentally processed. So is the honest answer, not interested at all. Should I plum for somewhere in between? Or isn't it true that I am fairly interested, so long as it doesn't actually happen? If an alcohol free wine was invented that tasted great and gave a nice buzz, I would certainly be fairly interested.
So how indicative is that research? I recall at the time Mr Maharey making a big deal about how most people on the DPB wanted to work. Actually, the veracity of the results notwithstanding, they were interested in 'looking for work'. That's a different thing. Being interested in looking for a job doesn't translate into accepting it if it pays only slightly more than a benefit.
And as much as those who said they weren't even interested in looking can make a taxpayer feel rather testy, at least they were honest.
Dr Eric Crampton: Adventures in consumer protection
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8 comments:
I'd say the best way would be to ask what hours they can work, and what they want to do then say "hey, there's a job interview next week for a job like that, what time can you make it"?
Then see how many never do.
Being interested in looking for a job doesn't translate into accepting it if it pays only slightly more than a benefit.
Right. None of them at all said we are actively looking for work!!
I'd say the best way would be to ask what hours they can work,
Nope. You tell them when and where to turn up.
Actually, even that is too much effort and expesne.
How to end DPB dependency?
The entire DBP should be cancelled. Overnight.
Along with the Dole and WFF all the rest.
Those not interested in looking for work may simply have been too occupied raising their children to consider work.
Have we not always been told that raising a family is a worthwhile full time job?
And hasn't it traditionally been unpaid work, as opposed to paid for by the taxpayer?
Sorry but that comment was, as you put it, "too crass."
Unfortunately you and I understand freedom of speech but there are others who think if I let you say what you like as a libertarian, I share the sentiments.
For me personally I would have answered a most definitely interested. The work I recently had was part time temp and relied on school terms, it stopped three months ago and I'm not sure if the position will be available again next term due to govt funding cuts.
The money I earned was $15 an hour and was only a couple of hours a week after tax it basically only paid for my petrol getting to work. However the feeling of productivity was awesome.
I have been reading in the papers of job cuts everywhere, especially in places that are helping young people and less advantaged gain skills. More people are going to be signing up for the benefit and that isn't their fault, when the govt is slashing jobs!
Work for me in 2002 would have been based on day time hours due to no family support to help out with childcare, then there was the issue of paying a child care centre.
The reality is this.
Some are in the benefit cycle as you know which is generational, they are more likely to say "i dunno". lack of work can lead to depression. Depression leads to apathy and lack of motivation. They are more likely to say "I dunno".
As much as I love my children who are all growing up, I personally need to be doing something, be it study or work, being at home and non productive both does my head in and it is isolating. Many women on D.P.B feel this way also.
No one wants a bludger or loser label on their head.
Fear also prevents people from moving off the benefit, if there kids are sick etc, they need to take time off and they fear being fired.
To those whom believe being on the D.P.B is the easy way out think again, if there were better, viable options people in positions such as myself would snap it up.
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