Nice topic, here is some Aussie data on unemployment vs job vacancies.
http://unemployedworkersunion.com/...kers-v-job-vacancy-data
2016 (November)
Unemployed: 725,200
Underemployed: 1, 059,400
Hidden Unemployment: 1.386 million
Job Vacancies: 163, 700
Ratio of job seekers to job vacancies: 19.36
That's nearly 20 people looking for work for every job vacancy! There's just not enough work. I cant imagine how bad crime would be if not for our social safety net. Newstart(job seekers) allowance is roughly $265 Aus per week. Anyone receiving a welfare payment is also eligible for rent assistance and we have a public housing system that charges on a percentage of income basis.
There are two family tax benefits A and B, my wife and I are eligible for one of them despite a combined annual income upwards of 100k. We are also reimbursed for childcare costs up to $5000 per year(from memory). My wife and I are reimbursed around 50% of the cost of visits to the doctor, we pay nothing for the kids to see a doctor. We have used the local govt hospital on many occasions for injuries and the births of our kids with no out of pocket expense. You do have to pay for prescription medication on the way out though which is subsidised for those on pensions etc. We received a first home buyer grant of $7000.
I got a bit carried away there but I thought it wouldn't hurt to add some insight into a more socialist nation. Maybe you guys will see what you're missing out on 😂