Program helps almost 7500 Queenslanders get Back to Work

Published Thursday, 12 October, 2017 at 10:56 AM

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

The Palaszczuk Government’s program to support employers recruiting new staff has assisted almost 7500 Queenslanders get a job.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Government Back to Work Program has now assisted 3555 employers to recruit 7489 jobseekers across the State.

“We are well on schedule to meet our target of 8,000 job seekers assisted by the end of this financial year,” the Premier said.

“Those Queenslanders assisted by Back to Work represent more than half the jobs cut by Tim Nicholls and the LNP in their first Budget. Tim cut 14,000 positions of the government services, including 4400 from our health services, in his first Budget five years ago.”

“These 7,489 jobs are part of more than 115,000 new jobs created under my Government the equivalent of more than 100 new jobs every single day we have been in office.”

In regional Queensland, Back to Work has assisted:

  • 764 employers in far north Queensland to recruit 1709 jobseekers;
  • 840 employers in the Wide Bay region to recruit 1510 jobseekers;
  • 686 employers in north Queensland to recruit to 1503 jobseekers;
  • 586 employers in central Queensland to recruit 1122 jobseekers;
  • 475 employers in Mackay-Whitsunday to recruit 1079 jobseekers;
  • 179 employers to south-west Queensland, including the Darling Downs, to recruit 316 jobseekers; and
  • 94 employers in north west Queensland to recruit 250 jobseekers.

“Following Back to Work program’s success in regional Queensland, we have now expanded it into South East Queensland for young and long-term job seekers.”

“Since July, when that expansion occurred, 310 job seekers have been employed in South East Queensland under the Back to Work program,” the Premier said.

That includes:

  • 67 on the Gold Coast;
  • 54 jobs on the Sunshine Coast;
  • 34 in Moreton Bay;
  • 32 in Toowooomba; and
  • 25 in Ipswich.

Employment Minister Grace Grace said she had seen first-hand how the program was benefiting jobseekers and employers throughout Queensland.

“Thousands of Queenslanders have gained employment thanks to Back to Work, which is also pumping millions of dollars into local economies,” the Minister said.

“I say to eligible employers out there - if you’re thinking of hiring, get in touch with our local Back to Work team to put yourself in line for support payments of up to $20,000.”

Back to Work Regional Queensland *

Support payments currently available for eligible employers of up to:

  • $10,000 for hiring an unemployed worker (specific to regional Queensland, outside South East Queensland)
  • $15,000 for hiring a long-term unemployed worker (a person unemployed for 52 weeks or more)
  • $20,000 Youth Boost for hiring a young jobseeker aged 15-24 years (must be employed by 31 October 2017 (inclusive)

Back to Work South East Queensland *

From July 1, 2017

Support payments available for eligible employers of up to:

  • $15,000 for eligible employers who hire a long-term unemployed jobseeker (a person unemployed for 52 weeks or more)
  • $20,000 for a young jobseeker (aged between 15-24 years)
  • To be eligible, employees need to have started work on, or after Saturday 1 July 2017, and have been employed for at least four weeks.

 Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier's office) 0417 263 791