In its quarterly tourism labour statistics, released on Wednesday (22 December), the ABS found that part-time female jobs decreased the most in number but full-time female jobs had the largest percentage decline.
There was a 17.5 per cent decrease in the number of full-time jobs for females (-28,000), and a 12.7 per cent decline in part-time work available (-23,000).
Overall, jobs in the tourism sector fell by 9.2 per cent (-56,200), and were still 11.7 per cent below the number of jobs as the same time last year.
The bushfires followed immediately by the COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the Australian economy with tourism particularly affected. Tourism jobs peaked at 749,000 in December 2019, and in September quarter 2021 has fallen to the lowest level (554,800) since March 2012. This represents 25.9 per cent (-194,200) fewer tourism jobs, compared with 2.5 per cent (-353,000) per cent jobs in the whole economy as at the end of this quarter.
The sectors within the industry that were suffering the most were job losses were cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services: -26,700 jobs (-11.9 per cent); accommodation: -11,200 jobs (-12.1 per cent); clubs, pubs, taverns and bars: -4,800 jobs (-8.7 per cent).
However, the sector that had been impacted the most was education and training, which had lost 99 per cent of its workforce (-47,900). This drastic drop was due to the loss of international short-term students and online students. In order for an international student to be counted as a ‘tourist’, they need to be physically present in the country and here for no more than 12 out of 16 months.
The retail sector had the next biggest loss, down 17,400 jobs (-15.2 per cent), followed by cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, which had a loss of -9,400 jobs (-4.5 per cent)
The ABS data found part-time jobs decreased more than full-time jobs, although full-time jobs had the larger yearly decrease.
