Former deputy prime minister Brian Howe visited Bendigo to chair an insecure work inquiry this week.

He said stories that came out of Bendigo reflected nation-wide trends.

Mr Howe said families were suffering because of a lack of full-time opportunities.

“People who are unable to obtain full-time work are financially insecure,” he said.

“They are not choosing to work casually, they are being forced to.

“It impacts on a person’s ability to support their family.”

Academic and researcher Sara Charlesworth is a member of the inquiry.

She said she was surprised to learn Loddon Mallee men were above the national average of retail workers, a field dominated by casual employment.

The national average for men working in retail is 8.8 per cent, while in Loddon Mallee it is 14.7 per cent.

“Some of the people told us, if you are a casual you are nothing,” Ms Charlesworth said.

“You have got a problematic income and have issues borrowing money from banks.”

“Casual workers are treated as second-class citizens.Employees do not feel responsible for them and people feel like they are on their own.”

The Bendigo visit came in week five of a six-week tour of the nation.

Mr Howe said employers were discriminating against older people wanting to remain or get back into the workforce, particularly in regional areas.

He said unskilled people also experienced similar problems finding work.

“People are living much longer and are working much longer but find they are being pushed out of the workforce and into casual work.

“People need an income longer and have more responsibilities longer in life. They need to earn but it is much more difficult to get a permanent job.”

Mr Howe and Ms Charlesworth will present a report, based on their inquiry, to the ACTU next month.

The ACTU will use the report to lobby governments.