AWU-Auspoll job confidence survey

Date: 06 November 2009

Australian workers want the Rudd Labor Government to keep spending in support of job creation, a tracking survey conducted by The Australian Workers' Union has shown

" Even though working people accept that the economy is slowly getting better they don't want the Federal Government to take their foot off the stimulus pedal - just yet," Paul Howes AWU National Secretary said.

Latest AWU-Auspoll survey updates January data

The new AWU-Auspoll survey of 1500 working Australians was completed at the end of October, and replicates questions first asked by the union at the start of this year.

" While workers are still concerned about the economy there has been a significant drop in the numbers expressing this concern since the AWU first asked the same question at the start of the year.

" To understand how the community is feeling today we decided to revisit some of the same questions we asked, with the help of Auspoll, earlier this year, " Paul Howes said.

Data indicates backing for union procurement campaign

" I am particularly interested in the clear support the poll shows for the Federal Government to maintain the stimulus package.

" This poll also strengthens my union's campaign, and my resolve, to argue for Government procurement policies favouring Australian industries and Australian jobs," Paul Howes said.

" This should be especially true when taxpayers dollars are being used to support job-creating infrastructure projects."

Majority support Gvt action to maintain jobs

The new AWU-Auspoll shows that a majority of Australians still support government action to maintain Australian jobs.

• 51% believe the government should spend money to support jobs even if it sends the budget into deficit.

• 79% believe the government should fund initiatives to encourage consumers to buy Australian, and

•  77% believe the government should support jobs by increasing funding for infrastructure projects.

Job confidence starting to rise - but patchy

The latest survey demonstrates that a majority of Australians are now confident that if they lost their jobs they could find another one. However they are not as sure that they could find a similar job with equivalent pay and benefits.

A greater number of people have become unsure about this issue since the AWU-Auspoll asked this question in January. Fewer people are saying they are confident, but fewer people are also saying they are less confident.

Support funding for retraining of workers

Women are more likely to support funding for the retraining of workers who are at risk of losing their jobs due to the global financial crisis, the tracking survey indicates

Older workers are less confident than younger workers. 55% of respondents under 30 are confident they could find another job, but only 34% of respondents aged 55 and over.

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes
Union:	AWU National Secretary
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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