Evaluation of the Australian Wage Subsidy Special Youth ...

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Table 2.6 SYETP annual expenditure and placements1976/77-1985/86
Political regime Year Expenditure
($millions)
Fraser government
era
Hawke government
era
Expenditure % of
total annual
expenditure on
labour market
programmes
Number of
placements
1976/77 6.6 6.5 9,590
1977/78 47.1 29.6 66,000
1978/79 82.6 40.7 66,350
1979/80 24.2 17.8 44,300
1980/81 41.3 21.9 65,309
1981/82 53.7 24.8 51,696
1982/83 63.6 17.8 66,270
1983/84 120.2 15.3 87,582
1984/85 97.7 10.8 68,874
1985/86 61.7 7.3 30,107
Source: Ross (1988) p37 Table 3
Note: the SYETP became part of Jobstart from January 1986 and 1985-6 figures reflect the end of the
programme under this name.
2.2.5 Economic Context of SYETP at the time of our analysis
The main aim of this section is to provide a synthesis of research for selected relevant
features of the Australian labour market for the period, in particular focusing on youths.
2.2.5.1 Role and impact of the CES
Wielgosz (1984) examined the referral and placement role of the Commonwealth
Employment Service (CES). They noted that since establishment in 1946, the primary
function of the Australian CES had been to match registered jobseekers and vacancies,
but later the administration of manpower programmes was added to the brokerage
function. CES effectiveness in executing such roles would affect the extent to which
employers and jobseekers utilized the CES. In turn the CES performance in matching
jobseekers and vacancies would be influenced by the characteristics and volume of these
received.
Hoy and Lampe (1982) p6 noted that after 1977, efforts were made to improve the CES
performance of the brokerage role. They listed two initiatives: job self-service, where