In job hunting website Seek's 'Call Centre & Customer Service' jobs category, applications have increased more than six times since coronavirus restrictions started, compared to the same time period in 2019.

"With geography no longer a barrier, these roles appeal to many people as they can be done from home and usually don’t require a specific qualification," Seek's report said.

Additionally, Seek interviewed 4,800 individuals and found nearly one third (30%) of casual workers and one in five (21%) contractors have been stood down or lost their job since the outbreak of the virus.

One in four are also working fewer hours and 7% have taken a pay cut.

This survey is corroborated by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data collected from 14 March through 18 April that found 33.4% of jobs were lost in the accommodation and food services sectors. 

Yesterday the ABS also revealed unemployment hit 6.2% nationally in April, and without a fall in the participation rate, that figure would have been 9.6%, with JobKeeper working to keep numbers down.

Wage growth data was also soft for March - before coronavirus lockdowns on 22 March - with just a 0.2% real rise when inflation is taken into account.

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance

High Interest Savings Account (< $250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month

Savings Maximiser (<$100k)

  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money

Saver Account (<$250k)

  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%

Savings Account (Amounts < $250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%
020001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest

Home Saver

  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
No monthly fees
  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
No monthly fees

Save Account

  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account ($0 - $100,000)

    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver ($1 - $25k)

      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Target Saver

        010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
        For customers aged 14-35 years
        For customers aged 14-35 years

        Future Saver Account ( < $50k)

          05001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest

          Goal Saver

          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest
          010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Boost Saver

            00.011$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Reward Saver Account (31 years +) ($0-$100k)

              01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Bonus Saver Account (Amounts < $100k)

                0201$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Reward Saver Kick Start (Amounts ≤ $1m)

                  00.010$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Life (< 30 years) (Monthly deposit)

                    5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    NetBank Saver

                      000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      ANZ Save

                        050$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Young Saver Account

                          0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Save up

                            Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                            All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of December 11, 2023. View disclaimer.

                            Most still 'optimistic' on the jobs front

                            Seek's survey also found 60% feel optimistic for the future - up from 51% in the two weeks prior.

                            In the healthcare industry, many are also more satisfied with their jobs, with a practice nurse telling Seek:

                            “People are coming in and saying, ‘we applaud you, you are the heroes of today’."

                            “It just feels amazing to be recognised for what we do. It’s reminded me that this profession makes a difference to people’s lives.

                            “Being able to help people during such a stressful time makes me feel very happy in my job.

                            “I feel like I am using my skills for a greater purpose.”

                            Seek put the increase in optimism down to the COVID-19 curve flattening in Australia.