Being unemployed absolutely sucks and I give my story....

No job prospects, no future, no hope. Where I live there are no jobs unless you know someone. Years have gone by and I am still stuck in same position. I could have done course after course and it would all be for nothing because it is experience that leads to employment. When there are no jobs it is bad luck there are no jobs and you are stuck on welfare, charity, begging on streets or whatever it takes to survive.

Unless you know the right people, finding employment is near impossible and relies a lot on luck of being in the right place at the right time. The employment services were terrible they could not help with cover letters, could not assist with resumes or set me up with employment positions. It was man up, get over it and toughen up princess. I mass mailed job ads and sounded really desperate and offered to work for free but no responses.

The longer I was unemployed the more unemployable I became hopeless, anxious, depressed, embarrassed and ashamed. Long term unemployment sucked the life out of me. I could not believe that I bothered with education an completed diploma, advanced diploma and degree in Accounting to end up unemployed and too old to do retail/fast food jobs that get filled by younger people. Education for me was an absolutely waste of time and I wish I took a fast food/retail job at 15 or 16 and stuck with that instead of bothering with education. 

Has anyone else experienced unemployment or worse long term unemployed and realised they wasted their life completing a degree to end up unemployable?

Yes, I know that feeling. I had a hard time finding a job after university. It was very similar like you describe it. Experience is desired but without a job you can't get experience. It really sucks and it feels like you've been stigmatised.

I wish you alle the best and hope you never give up because one day it will work out.

Yep, from roughly 0 - 18 and counting.

Yeah. Not falling for your pity party if that is what you are hoping, there is tons of work available.

Everything you have complained about is essentially your own fault, starting being proactive, take charge of your own life, get professional help.

That really depends where he is.

There are a lot of bludgers out there to be sure. But long-term unemployment is a genuinely challenging problem.

It often starts with people not being able to find the perfect job, then a good job, then a non-degrading job that covers the bills, then a degrading job that covers the bills.

All through that process their skills and confidence are atrophying. They may be starting to develop serious mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Their physical health is likely worsening, given the proven link between long-term unemployment and chronic health issues.

I've no idea what the OP's situation is, and I am fortunate never to have experienced long-term unemployment. But I have certainly witnessed its devastating effects.

If you were asking this 3 months ago, I would probably agree with you.

But since I've got a job, even 2, and with a great salary.

Perth. AFAIK. - There is a ton of jobs over there.
This is not the first thread he has made describing these issues... However, the crux is... He won't listen to advice from those who have experience or expertise on certain topics, hence why I have zero sympathy for his current self-inflicted situation.

Plus he refused to work certain jobs as he believed they were "beneath him". - At the end of the day... A job is a job, you have to start from the bottom and work your way up... Doesn't matter what that job is, get your hands dirty, sit at a desk all day... Doesn't matter... It beats sitting on the dole and stagnating in life.

It's like when people try to join the fire station, they don't realize that you don't get to jump on the truck and go to a rescue job on the first day, you have to work for that and damn hard too, that is provided if they will even consider you for any kind of position to start with. - Best bet is to join a volunteer agency first, get some experience and training and focus on your health (Mental and Physical) before going for a professional paid position.

Start from the bottom, work your way up, Shit. I left home with only the shirt on my back, no money, only year 10 high-school, no experience, no house or car...

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Sure, mental health is an issue, hence why I stipulated that he should seek professional help. (I suggested this also months ago, so obviously nothing has changed.)

My view on this probably seems harsh or abrasive, but sometimes a harsh kick of reality is what an individual needs to get motivated.

The longer you're unemployed the harder it is to get a job. Some employers will just look at your resume and see a unemployed gap and then have second thoughts. It is really stupid and unfair in my opinion. You got to have a really good excuse.

Completing further education should enhance job prospects not make you older and unemployable.
I lost time and lost hope from doing further study that lead to nothing.
Any job is better than no job and I will do any job for cash in hand.
Cash in hand jobs without super and the entitlements at a lower rate to force wages down.
I actually wanted to do a physical job not a sit at a desk all day job. I am not fussy.

How can it be my fault I tried to better myself through further education and became unemployable by bad luck.
I call it bad luck and misfortune of not being picked to do any job.
It is pot luck to be in the right place at the right time to get the job.
Just imagine you get fired or your factory closes down you could end up unemployed and worse after 6 months unemployed you end up unemployable.
I voted for minimum wage to be lowered or abolished so unemployed have a better chance of gaining employment.

No, not really. I was unemployed for like 2-3 month after canceling my study at a university of applied science. Did an internship as an electrician. I learned the basics, but that wasn't something I was looking for and did a vocational training in the field of IT. Starting with a low payment, I did more training during the job paid by the company to find the right place in that field. Right now I am a system specialist / technical consultant for Avaya Aura PBX and additional server applications. I've climbed the career ladder pretty fast in the recent years and still going up. My luck was that I didn't had to ask anyone if they want me, they all came on their own and ask me to join them.

The current market is that most people go to universities. They are flooding the market and have trouble to find a job. I went the other way, where people with my experience are rare, but desperately needed.