People on the Newstart unemployment benefit are among those most affected by cost of living pressures in the lead up to Christmas. The QCOSS Cost of Living Update released today also highlights industries where people are at greater risk of unemployment or underemployment and facing greater cost of living pressures.

“The update shows how three types of typical low income households have fared over the last six months,” says QCOSS Director Mark Henley. “And, while things have improved marginally, two out of these three sample households are still not able to afford a basic standard of living.

“The household consisting of a single unemployed person is struggling the most  and the single parent household with two children is also still unable to afford a basic standard of living.  The low-income working family featured in the report is likely to be only slightly better off.

“It is clearly impossible for unemployed people to put aside even a few dollars a week to cover anything unexpected. The fundamental problem is that Newstart is simply too low. We highlighted this in our last report. And the Australian Council of Social Service has been advocating for an increase in Newstart for many years,” say Mark.

The first QCOSS Cost of Living Report was released in May this year. This six-monthly update highlights the structural shift in employment and the greater vulnerability of those not benefiting from the resources and mining boom.

“Some areas of the economy are struggling and shedding jobs,” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh. “People employed in retail, manufacturing, construction, accommodation and food industries are particularly vulnerable.

“When people working in these areas lose their jobs, or their working hours are reduced, the households they are part of face greater cost of living pressures. Any threat to work income is a real problem for single parent households and working family households,” says Karyn.

Click here to view the report.