Employment forum aims to kickstart job generation on Gold Coast

Employment Minister Grace Grace will today meet with business and community leaders from the Gold Coast to discuss ideas to generate employment opportunities for local residents.

Ms Grace said the employment forum, part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Community Cabinet meeting on the Gold Coast, would be attended by representatives from business, industry and local government.

“Today’s forum provides a wonderful opportunity for local business and community leaders to discuss how the Queensland Government can continue to work with the community to support jobs,” she said.

“It will also provide a chance to work together to identify new opportunities and initiatives to generate local job creation.

“Youth and regional unemployment remain priority areas for the Queensland Government and we’re working hard to achieve better employment outcomes.

“We will continue to listen businesses, local government and the community about what’s needed to support more Queenslanders getting jobs.

“I look forward to working together to foster new ideas and develop practical solutions to local challenges.”

Ms Grace said with the 2018 Commonwealth Games just around the corner, the Gold Coast continues to see strong growth in jobs and opportunity.

“We’re building or upgrading 17 world-class facilities for the Commonwealth Games, making this area a real jobs powerhouse that will inject $2 billion into the Queensland economy and support thousands of jobs,” she said.

“The $320 million investment into sport and community infrastructure alone will support more than 1000 jobs during design and construction, as well as leaving a lasting legacy for the Gold Coast.

“That’s on top of the 1,000 jobs supported during the construction of Stage 2 of Gold Coast Light Rail and the 1,600 construction jobs and 1,000 ongoing jobs that would be supported by the proposed Mariner’s Cove development.

“This work is helping deliver jobs and create greater employment opportunities - the number one priority of the Palaszczuk Government.”

Media Contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548