Why were there so many ‘jobless’ during boom?

YOUR front page headline (July 5) highlighted the number of people on the dole as the highest for 10 years.

From the figures you quote, it can be calculated that the average unemployment level between June 2003 and December 2007 was 164,654.

So, during an economic boom, it would appear many people could not find work. Could it be that some were unemployable while others were not seriously seeking a job? Perhaps it is that many were working as contractors and signing on as unemployed. If so, what action was being taken by the Department of Social & Family Affairs to identify those ‘regular customers’ and prevent waste of taxpayers’ funds?