CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR QLD JOBS MARKET

Queensland has hit the record-breaking monthly unemployment figure of 4.2% (down from 4.3) and again leads the nation in jobs growth, Premier Peter Beattie said today.

“The Smart State created 88,600 jobs across the year to November 2006 - accounting for more than one third (33.9%) of all jobs across the nation,” Mr Beattie said.

“With 20% of the nation’s population we are delivering our share plus a healthy share of the others.

“This is good news for Queensland families, particularly our most recent school leavers and university graduates who will enter the full-time work market for the first time.

“Over the year to November, the State’s full-time employment increased by 81,300 - which contributed to more than 40% of full-time jobs nationally

“This is a stunning result. It sits well with yesterday’s national growth numbers and again highlights that we truly are the engine room of the nation.

“We are currently the jobs factory of Australia,” he said.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said Queensland continued to outperform national trend unemployment figures, also down a percentage point to 4.6%.

“In the month of November, Queensland created 4200 jobs of 7700 nationally,” Ms Bligh said.

“Remarkably Queensland’s unemployment rate continued to fall despite on-going drought and earlier interest rate rises (May and August).

“Queensland’s strong economic and employment growth continues to encourage people into the labour force, with the labour force participation rate remaining at an historic high of 67.1%.

“This record-breaking figure is a result of strong economic planning and management,” she said.

ENDS

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Media contact: 3224 4500