The effects of substance abuse and mental health disabilities are less likely to impact on a person’s ability to find a job than their education and work history, new research has found.
The Victoria University research found that a job seeker’s “job readiness” factors – such as education, work history, family size and levels of social support – had more of an impact on ability to find employment than substance abuse or mental health problems.
Employment agency MatchWorks and drug and alcohol support service the Stepping Up Consortium, which work together to help Wyndham job seekers, commissioned the research to identify the effects of mental illness and substance use on job prospects.
MatchWorks general manager Michael Wasley said the findings were surprising.
“We commissioned the research by Victoria University to understand the deeper reasons for why people with substance use and mental health disabilities are more likely to be unemployed than the general population,” he said.
“Surprisingly, the research indicates the effect of substance use and mental health disabilities does not appear to be the main factor.
“This research suggests that by going further and focusing on an individual’s more basic issues, they will have a much greater chance of success.”
Mr Wasley said the research highlighted the importance of MatchWorks and Stepping Up continuing to work together in Wyndham.
“Employment not only brings financial benefits … it plays an important role in our sense of identity, our feelings of self-worth and our level of participation in society,” he said.
“All prove to be crucial parts in an individual’s recovery from such disabilities.
“We will integrate these findings into our day-to-day business and work to provide more targeted resources and support to assist job seekers with a substance use or mental health disability.”
