Unemployment figures highlight need to get Back to Work

Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today show areas of improvement in unemployment figures across the state, while some regions are still doing it tough.

Acting Premier and Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the latest regional labour force data showed Wide Bay and Logan-Beaudesert had the largest decrease in unemployment rate in the state, down 2.4 percentage points since the same period last year.

“It is an encouraging sign that a number of regions across Queensland have recorded a fall in their unemployment rate in the past 12 months,” Mr Pitt said.

“This month also shows improvement in the unemployment rates for Darling Downs - Maranoa, Fitzroy, Mackay, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba in the 12 months to August 2016.”

Mr Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government was acutely aware of the need to tackle the state’s unemployment, especially in regional areas, in the wake of the LNP’s economic mismanagement.

“Our economic plan is seeing conditions improve and unemployment starting to come down in some regions of Queensland in the wake of the LNP’s mass sackings and withdrawal of funding for regional infrastructure,” Mr Pitt said.

“But there are areas that are still doing it tough, which is why the Palaszczuk Government’s focus remains squarely on creating job opportunities.

“That’s why we are now offering a higher incentive to Queensland businesses to employ apprentices and trainees through our Payroll Tax Rebate – For this financial year any employer in Queensland with apprentices or trainees on staff will now be able to claim a 50 per cent rebate.

“The doubling of the rebate for hiring apprentices and trainees makes Queensland’s payroll tax system even more attractive.

“Our $100 million Back to Work regional jobs package also aims to support up to 8,000 jobs in regional Queensland and includes payments of $10,000 for employers who hire an unemployed worker, rising to $15,000 for the long-term unemployed.

“I would encourage regional employers to take advantage of these schemes and the significant payments available for taking on an unemployed person.”

Other job creation initiatives include a $40 billion four-year infrastructure program with $10.7 billion earmarked for 2016-17 supporting an estimated 31,000 jobs. Almost half the 2016-17 infrastructure spending ($4.9 billion) is targeted to regional Queensland. 

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