"JobSeeker is obviously going to have to continue," the head of the Australian Industry Group said on Wednesday, referring to the crisis as a three year proposition.

"We're going to have high unemployment for a long time, whether we like it or not, and there will need to be stronger supports for people. An increased payment from what it was is I think undoubtedly going to have to be part of that, just to help people get by."

When the coronavirus hit, the government effectively doubled the unemployment benefit to $1120 a fortnight after many months of resisting calls last year, but insisted the extra money was temporary, with the so-called JobSeeker payment set to end at the end of September, along with the JobKeeper wage subsidy.

Mr Willox was speaking at a Senate inquiry into the coronavirus on Wednesday, where he said businesses had been worried since the start about the period from August onwards, as the existing pipeline of work dried up and future contracts were cancelled.

He said he had big concerns about unemployment impacts and "enormous concerns" about the impact on young people.

The end of September, as government support was withdrawn, would be "a time of real concern and a potential pinpoint and stress point to the economy", Mr Willox said.

The JobKeeper wage subsidy - a flat $1500-a-fortnight payment to about 3 million workers - could not continue indefinitely. But parts of the economy would need continued support - either JobKeeper or a program to stimulate business investment.

"When JobKeeper goes it will be a significant stress on balance sheets and for many small businesses to have that rug pulled from under them will be quite devastating," Mr Willox said. "So it's going to need a lot of support for business to help manage cashflow."

Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive James Pearson also called for continued support past September, saying it was "absolutely vital" that the wage subsidy for apprentices stay in place.

The government is currently paying half of apprentice wages, amounting to about $21,000 for each apprentice from January to September.

Mr Pearson said the government should also reverse the long-term fall in funding for vocational education and training.

While it was not viable to keep JobKeeper in its current form, there was a strong case for support for businesses that would continue to be hit by shutdowns and restrictions, and JobKeeper should continue in some form.

Mr Pearson called for tax reform, which he said had been in the too hard basket for too long. He pointed to state payroll taxes and stamp duty on property sales, which he said should be tackled as a matter of urgency.

More to come