Published Thursday, 08 February, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Queensland’s unemployment rate – hits new record low 4.0%
8 February 2006
Queensland has again set another historic low unemployment rate – 4%, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today
“Today’s almost unbelievable 4.0% figure sits well with this month’s Mid Year Review and our continuing Standard and Poor’s AAA rating,” said Ms Bligh.
“Last month when Queensland hit its best-ever monthly unemployment figure of 4.1% most people would have thought a further drop impossible – but it’s been done.
“Queensland created more than 100,000 jobs across the year to January 2007 - accounting for more than 38% of all jobs across the nation,” she said.
“With 20% of the nation’s population we continue to delivering more than our share.”
“Over the year to January, the State’s full-time employment increased by 96,500 - which contributed to around 45% of full-time jobs nationally.
“Again this is an outstanding result.
“Today’s 4.0 percent figure is down 1.1 per centage point on this time last year.
Queensland has been under – or at - the national unemployment rate for more than two years now.
“In the month of January Queensland created 7,200 jobs of 12,600 nationally.
It is remarkable that our unemployment rate continued to fall despite on-going drought and earlier interest rate rises (May and August).
Mirroring last month’s record, strong economic and employment growth continue to encourage people into the labour force, with the labour force participation rate remaining constant at the historic high of 67.3% - the highest of any state in Australia.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379
Queensland has again set another historic low unemployment rate – 4%, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today
“Today’s almost unbelievable 4.0% figure sits well with this month’s Mid Year Review and our continuing Standard and Poor’s AAA rating,” said Ms Bligh.
“Last month when Queensland hit its best-ever monthly unemployment figure of 4.1% most people would have thought a further drop impossible – but it’s been done.
“Queensland created more than 100,000 jobs across the year to January 2007 - accounting for more than 38% of all jobs across the nation,” she said.
“With 20% of the nation’s population we continue to delivering more than our share.”
“Over the year to January, the State’s full-time employment increased by 96,500 - which contributed to around 45% of full-time jobs nationally.
“Again this is an outstanding result.
“Today’s 4.0 percent figure is down 1.1 per centage point on this time last year.
Queensland has been under – or at - the national unemployment rate for more than two years now.
“In the month of January Queensland created 7,200 jobs of 12,600 nationally.
It is remarkable that our unemployment rate continued to fall despite on-going drought and earlier interest rate rises (May and August).
Mirroring last month’s record, strong economic and employment growth continue to encourage people into the labour force, with the labour force participation rate remaining constant at the historic high of 67.3% - the highest of any state in Australia.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379