A new study by Anglicare Australia has exposed a dire housing affordability crisis affecting Australia’s essential workers, even those in full-time employment. The special edition of the Rental Affordability Snapshot, released during Anti-Poverty Week, paints a grim picture of the housing market for key workers across various sectors.

The study, which surveyed 45,115 rental listings nationwide, found that less than 3% of available rentals were affordable for essential workers such as ambulance workers, nurses and aged care workers. Even more concerning, less than 1% of rentals were within reach for early childhood educators, construction workers and hospitality staff.

Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers expressed alarm at the findings: “It should be a national scandal that so few of our essential workers can afford to keep a roof over their head. Our Snapshot shows that more and more essential workers are being pushed into serious rental stress and pushed out of their own communities.”

The data reveals:

• 976 rentals (2.2%) were affordable for an ambulance worker
• 696 rentals (1.5%) were affordable for an aged care worker
• 629 rentals (1.4%) were affordable for a nurse
• 398 rentals (0.9%) were affordable for an early childhood educator
• 389 rentals (0.9%) were affordable for a construction worker
• 352 rentals (0.8%) were affordable for a hospitality worker.

These figures highlight a growing crisis that extends beyond traditionally vulnerable groups to affect full-time workers in critical industries. “It’s no wonder so many critical industries are facing worker shortages,” Chambers noted.

In response to these findings, Anglicare Australia is calling for urgent government intervention. “Anglicare Australia is calling on the Government to boost social housing and make it an option for more Australians. Building general homes and hoping affordability will trickle down simply isn’t working,” Chambers stated.

The organisation is also advocating for comprehensive tax reform to prioritise housing for those in need over investors. “Taxpayers should not be funding investors to push up the cost of homes. Momentum is building to change this system once and for all,” Chambers added.

As the housing crisis deepens, affecting even those in full-time essential work, the call for action grows louder. Chambers concluded with a stark warning and a call to action: “These results are dire, but they are also an opportunity for change. It has never been more important for Governments to take bold action and ensure everyone has a home.”