COVID Unemployment Stats Confirm Aussie Arts Industry Hit Hard

Australia’s arts industry has taken a huge blow due to the COVID pandemic, and new Government stats prove just how devastating the past couple of months have been for the sector.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal just how hard the arts sector has been hit by the nation-wide lockdown, with jobs in the Arts and Recreation industry down 27.0% between 14 March (around the same time that venues were forced to close) and 18 April.

Wages between that same period also dropped -17.3%, with the only other industry experiencing a larger drop being Accommodation and Food Services (jobs decreasing 33.4% and wages down by 17.3%).

Last month, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young took aim at the Federal Government and its lack of support for the arts and entertainment industry amid the COVID pandemic after it was revealed it was left out of its JobKeeper scheme.

Meanwhile, venues across the country are doing everything they can to stay afloat until they’re able to safely reopen, with Victoria recently announcing plans to potential reopen pubs and clubs across the state in July, while Queensland looks at early June.