120,000 JOBS CREATED UNDER QUEENSLAND BREAKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT CYCLE INITIATIVE

The number of jobs created under the Queensland Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative has passed the 120,000 mark.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said today that as at March 31 169,354 Queenslanders had been assisted under the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative, including 120,259 people placed in jobs.

Mr Mickel said the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative had led Australia in the creation of jobs for the most disadvantaged in the labour force since it was introduced in October 1998.

“When the Beattie Government came to office in June 1998 we made it clear that jobs were our number one priority”, he said.

“Unemployment at the time was 8.4 per cent, the highest unemployment rate in Australia and a rate which we believed was far too high, and the Premier before the election set a target of 5 per cent unemployment which many at the time believed was unachievable.

“Unemployment in Queensland today is 4 per cent, well below the Government’s target and the lowest level in 30 years. Queensland now has the second lowest unemployment rate in Australia and is well below the national average of 4.5 per cent.

“It is important to note that this excellent result has been achieved in spite of Queensland having the highest participation rate in Australia at 67.6 per cent, well above the Australian average of 64.8 per cent.”

Mr Mickel said the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative was the most innovative package of labour market programs ever put together in Australia.

“I am pleased to say that Queensland continues to lead Australia in assistance for the most disadvantaged in the labour force, in particular the long-term unemployed,

Queensland in 2006/07 will spend about $100 million on labour market programs, more than every other state combined,” he said.

“Notwithstanding the outstanding results recorded on the drop in unemployment and continuing strong growth in employment, the Queensland Government is determined that those most disadvantaged in the labour market – the long-term unemployed, the mature-aged, people with a disability, young unskilled people, Indigenous people and people from a non-English speaking background – will not be left behind”.

Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government’s $773 million investment in the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle investment had achieved outstanding results.

“When the Beattie Government came to office there were 44,411 long-term unemployed people out of work for more than 12 months in Queensland, representing 30 per cent of the total number unemployed”, he said.

“Today there are 16,800 long-term unemployed representing 13.7 per cent of total unemployed, compared with the national average of 17.5 per cent.

“There can be no doubt that the success of the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative has had a major impact on both the incidence of long-term unemployment and of unemployment generally”.

Mr Mickel said that in the Beattie Government’s first budget $283 million was committed with a target of helping 24,500 people into jobs over four years.

“That target was reached early as have targets set since, culminating in the final target to reach 100,000 jobs by June 30 2007”, he said.

“We are now well ahead of that mark and I look forward to seeing more Queenslanders finding jobs as a result of the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative by June 30”.

Mr Mickel said the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative would transition to Skilling Queenslanders for Work from July 2007.

“Skilling Queenslanders for Work will continue the great work of the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative, but will be specifically aimed at helping provide individuals and industry with the skills need in the 21st Century”.

Mr Mickel said Skilling Queenslanders for Work was part of the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan and would receive funding of $240 million over the next three years.

Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.

April 19, 2007