Unions call for end to work for the dole

Unions have stepped up calls for work for the dole to be abolished.

ACTU president Ged Kearney will tell a May Day rally in Toowoomba on Saturday the program has never worked "and continues to punish those in society who need our help the most".

"If this government believes in helping people find meaningful work in secure workplaces, then it should invest in TAFE, traineeships and cadetships."

Ms Kearney's call comes after teenager Josh Park-Fing suffered a fatal head injury on April 19 when he fell from a trailer towed by a tractor while he was on a work-for-the-dole program in the southern Queensland city.

Across the country, 187,000 people are required to take part in work for the dole.

Jobs data released in March showed there were about 172,900 vacancies with 737,300 people looking for work.