Jobs fair: Mandurah job seekers voice struggles | Photos

Mandurah has an 8.71 per cent unemployment rate, which is more than West Australia (6.3%) and Australia (5.4%), according to id demographic analyst’s most recent data.

The Peel Jobs Fair welcomed employment service providers, recruitment agencies and federal researchers who answered questions and held workshops for job seekers, at the Mandurah Recreation Centre. 

Department of Jobs and Small Business spokesman Ivan Neville, who spoke at the fair, said competition was “significant” in Mandurah compared to other areas in Australia.

“On average, there are 30 applicants for every job vacancy advertised on the internet and in the newspaper and only four of these will get an interview,” he said. 

“The national average is 17 job applications per vacancy, so the competition here is significant.

“Job seekers need to be prepared to make compromises in terms of salary, expectations, whether they are casual or full-time and to consider areas outside of Mandurah.

“I acknowledge transport is an issue but there is a fairly large jobs market just an hour away.”

Joel Gemignani, 18, said he was struggling to find work as an adult with limited experience. 

“I don’t really have the experience a lot of people my age do,” he said.

“That’s what people in the workforce look for.

“I need anything and want anything – it’s really hard.”

Mr Gemignani said family problems affected some teenagers’ ability to gain and keep employment. 

“When I was younger, I was a bit of a silly kid and when you get older, you realise you probably should have listened a bit more,” he said. 

“A lot of teenagers have home issues as well, stuff preventing them from succeeding, like lack of funds and all that sort of stuff.

“Parents are the ones that help us get our first job and some of us just don’t have parents, or a father figure or anything.”

Mr Gemignani’s friend Joel Yovich, 17, agreed with the sentiment. 

“We have to make it on our own and in our own way,” he said.

“It’s tough and you’re just trying to keep on track – you go through times when you think you’re not good enough.”

Former fly-in fly-out chef Michael Mech, 64, who had been out of work since January, said he had been discriminated against for his age. 

“I am a qualified and experienced chef and carer,” he said. 

“I have been told I am over-qualified – that’s code for ‘your too old and we don’t want to spend any time effort or any sort of money on you’,”.

“Being out of work at this age is not good for you mental health and I am sure, for most people, it’s quite depressing.”

Read More: Mandurah the worst for youth unemployment in WA: report 

Canning MP Andrew Hastie said the “best form of welfare is a job”.

“We want people working, it gives them dignity and purpose in life,” he said. 

“This is what the jobs fair is all about – to link people with job seekers and providers.

“I think it’s great and had trouble finding a park – people were charging through like a Boxing-Day sale.”

Mr Hastie acknowledged the area has high unemployment but said there were signs of optimism.

“The unemployment rate has come down in the past 18 months,” he said. 

“If you look around we are seeing signs of growth in retail sector jobs and cafes opening up.

“When we think about our jobs, we should think Mandurah and the Peel region. 

“I am really excited about the Tonkin Highway extension. It will activate the west Mundijong industrial area. A lot of people are keen to start business there because they will have a direct route straight to the airport, among other things.”

Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery officially opened the Peel Jobs and Skills Centre on Wednesday, in an attempt to address the region’s unemployment rate. 

The Peel Jobs Fair was facilitated by The Makers, Department of Jobs and Mandurah employment facilitator Maryanne Baker.

Visit the Peel Jobs and Skills Centre, located at the South Metropolitan TAFE, for help in gaining employment.