Warrawong, Cringila and Primbee are all in the group where residents are least likely to be receiving JobKeeper payments via an employer to keep them in work, raising questions as to whether the scheme has done much for the more disadvantaged members of the workforce.

Berkeley, Warilla and Port Kembla are in the next decile (group of ten per cent), unlikely to access JobKeeper, research from analytics firm Taylor Fry shows.

These suburbs also had significantly higher than state average unemployment rates.

Helensburgh has emerged as highest-rated Illawarra postcode for JobKeeper, ranking in the top 10 per cent. Its unemployment rate was lower than average.

Bulli, Shellharbour, Flinders and Albion Park were the next most likely.

The University of Wollongong is also ranked least likely, as public universities were controversially excluded from JobKeeper.

But with the "Jobseeker" unemployment benefit almost doubled since April, taking it above the poverty line, an Illawarra employer has backed concerns raised by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that some people are turning down work because the dole pays more.

Ross Thompson, managing director of Wollongong and Nowra-based labour hire firm WorkplaceXS, said his company was hearing from "two or three people" a day that some jobs paid less than unemployment benefits, particularly cleaners.

"We are finding it hard as far as our casual pool, where the guys would rather stay at home tan go to work because they're getting more work on [Jobseeker] - they've told us that," Mr Thompson said.

"Labourers, and especially cleaners. We had a cleaner that was doing three days a week - they earned more money on the Jobseeker than doing those three days cleaning for us.

"We've actually had employees, when Jobseeker [increased], stopped working for us so they can sit at home and get the Jobseeker payment. Six or seven staff. We can't find enough cleaners at the moment."

Michael Renzetti, who moved his Renzetti's Pizzeria from Stanwell Park into his premises at Shells Diner at Austinmer, said he received plenty of applications, but also no-shows. When he had to fill barista and kitchen jobs, he received 120 applications.

"Plenty of people have been looking for work ... but of the half-dozen we asked to come in, only one showed up," he said. "She got the job, then she didn't turn up for it. Maybe they're just going trough the rigmarole of applying.

"it's free money at the moment isn't it?"

He accessed JobKeeper payments at first. "Jobkeeer was good - that's something that cafes need, restaurants need, clubs need. That's what saved their bacon."

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