Using Census data across 10 years to examine Australians’ experiences of poverty, the report also shows that education plays a significant role in escaping poverty. Our analysis suggests that entering unemployment could bring long-lasting negative impacts on a person’s capacity of move out of poverty,” Professor Payne said. The data also found that education and reskilling are important drivers in securing employment and should be a significant policy focus of the pandemic recovery. Of these people 20.6 cent had gained a higher level of education, and 40.4 per cent gained work. “As we respond to the pandemic-induced employment challenges, policymakers should be concerned that longer periods of unemployment will have long lasting effects that increase poverty,” Professor Davis said.
