Jobs assistance for 15,000 Queenslanders in 2009

The Queensland Government will provide jobs and training for more than 15,000 people under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative in 2009.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the State Government would inject some $81 million into job programs for the unemployed and under-employed this year.

Mr Mickel said that with the current economic downturn, the Government’s jobs programs were even more important than they had been in the past.

“Over the last 10 years Queensland has led Australia by a wide margin in investment in jobs programs, and we will continue this commitment,” he said.

“During this time more than 200,000 Queenslanders have received jobs and assistance under these programs.

“This investment has kept Queensland’s unemployment rate well below the national average for the past four years and has seen unemployment amongst all age groups slashed. Importantly, the numbers of long-term unemployed also have been slashed.

“The current economic situation has reinforced our determination to help the most disadvantaged in the workforce with the necessary skills to get jobs.

“It is a great irony that at a time when we are being buffeted by strong economic winds, skill shortages still remain,” he said.

Mr Mickel said in 2009 it was estimated that 15,000 people would be assisted under the innovative Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

“These will include young people at risk of slipping through the cracks of the conventional education system, parents and carers entering or re-entering the jobs market, and mature-aged people”, he said.

“Other groups who will be assisted include Indigenous people, people with a disability, migrants and refugees.

“We estimate that there will be 290 projects funded across the state in 2009 providing jobs, job preparation, training and valuable infrastructure to local communities.

“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative has produced outstanding results for more than 24,000 people since it replaced the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative in July 2007.

“Twelve months after receiving assistance 71 per cent of project participants are in employment or further training.”

Mr Mickel said that in 2009 an additional $4 million will be injected into the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative through the Australian Government’s Productivity Places Program.

The PPP aims to reduce skill shortages and increase the productivity of industry and enterprises.

For further information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 369 925.

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