Queensland the leader in jobs growth

Queensland continues to be Australia’s employment powerhouse, with today’s ABS labour force figures showing more jobs are being created in Queensland than any other state.

 Treasurer Tim Nicholls said Queensland was the nation’s standout performer on jobs creation.

 “Queensland recorded the strongest employment growth, in both trend and seasonally adjusted terms, of any state in the year to February 2014,” Mr Nicholls said.

 “In the last 12 months trend employment has increased by 26,600 jobs, while seasonally adjusted employment has risen by 40,100.

 “This puts us out in front of the rest of the country.”

 “Today’s figures also show Queensland’s employment growing by 30,800 jobs in February, seasonally adjusted.

 “The trend measure shows an increase of about 900 jobs.

 “Importantly, trend employment has now increased in 16 of the last 17 months.”

 Mr Nicholls said the headline unemployment rate had jumped slightly in February up 0.1 per cent to 6.1 per cent in trend terms, reflecting the strength of Queensland’s labour force participation.

 “Queensland’s participation rate is far higher than the national average,” he said.

 “This is a further sign of confidence and shows the Newman Government’s plan to grow a four-pillar economy is working after years of neglect by Labor.

 “Labour force participation actually grew by more than 35,000 people in February, seasonally adjusted, while trend participation increased by 3,000.

 “Today’s figures also highlight the need for the Government to be able to fund job-creating infrastructure projects in the future.

“If we’re going to be able to do that we will have to find ways to lower Labor’s $80 billion debt so that we can free up funds for these projects.”

 [ENDS] 13 March 2014

Media contact: Treasurer’s Office 3719 7200