The Hidden Truths Behind Increasing Barriers for the Australian Unemployed

During a recent conversation with a woman we were supporting into work, I asked what she believed was her biggest barrier to employment. Her response was simple, but deeply confronting, “I live in my car.”

This is not a rare case. Over 150,000 Australians are currently homeless or living rough. Behind every statistic is a person doing their best to survive while facing challenges most of us can’t imagine, let alone while trying to secure employment. Housing insecurity is just one of many growing, and often hidden, barriers faced by people looking for work in Australia today.

Another increasingly common obstacle is the impact of domestic violence. Many individuals seeking employment are simultaneously navigating trauma, control, and safety concerns. In some cases, individuals are unable to communicate freely due to coercion, or face workplace disruptions from uninvited persons showing up at their jobs. This creates significant safety concerns and makes sustained employment incredibly difficult to manage. It’s a harsh reality, but one that is becoming more present in our day-to-day work with job seekers.

Access to quality training and education is also a growing concern. Many courses promoted as “industry-ready” or “vocational training” fall short of equipping participants with the actual skills or accreditations required by employers. This is especially evident in sectors like Aged Care, Disability Services, and Childcare — industries that desperately need workers, but require practical, compliant, and up-to-date skills to meet regulations and ensure safety.

Beyond housing, safety, and education, there are even more basic barriers many unemployed Australians face: a lack of work-appropriate clothing, limited access to the internet, no mobile phone or credit for follow-up calls, and little to no funds for transport. These may seem like small issues on their own, but together they create a mountain that can be near-impossible to climb without support.

At AimBig Employment, we see and address these barriers every day. We partner with a growing number of community organisations around the country to offer holistic, human-first support. From connecting people with safe housing options, to supplying clothing, tech, food, and legal support, we understand that getting someone into a job takes more than just a résumé and an interview.

The path to employment has become increasingly complex, and if we want to genuinely tackle unemployment, we must acknowledge the hidden truths that keep people from work. When businesses and employment providers work together with empathy and awareness, we not only change lives, but we also build stronger, more inclusive workplaces and communities.

If you’re an employer looking to make a difference, reach out. Together, we can remove barriers and unlock the potential in people who deserve a fair chance.