We need to talk about class – podcast

Lisa Fowkes on why we need to be talking about class and economic mobility in Australian workplaces. She shares insights suggesting that doing so is critical, not just because someone's postcode shouldn’t dictate their fortunes, but because of the economic benefits of more inclusive practices.

21 July 2025

Social Ventures Australia · We need to talk about class

Summary

Declining economic mobility undermines social cohesion, threatening economic stability.

While economic mobility in Australia has been strong relative to other countries, people born into poorer families will, on average, earn less than their peers.

One of the factors that affects outcomes for people from less privileged backgrounds is the way employers use degrees to filter out candidates, even where a degree is not needed for the job. Segregation of cities and schools by socio-economic status also affects opportunity

The first step to ensuring equitable access to employment is to make the issue of socio-economic diversity in the workplace visible.

SVA is seeking to engage with employers and others with an interest in employer action on economic mobility.

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