South East Queensland employers warm to Back to Work program

South East Queensland employers are warming to the Palaszczuk Government’s $177.5 million Back to Work jobs program, which continues to be a hit with regional employers.

Employment Minister Grace Grace said since the Back to Work program was expanded to the South East, more than 30 jobseekers in the region had been hired under the initiative, including pending applications.

“The government has also received 350 inquiries from employers in the South East since applications opened in late July,” she said.

“And it’s not surprising, given employers in the South East are now in line for support payments of up to $20,000 for hiring a jobseeker.

“I want to encourage South East employers to get on board with this great program, which is already an outstanding success in regional Queensland.

“Back to Work is already supporting 6,257 jobs in regional Queensland, including 3,481 people aged 15-24 through the $20,000 Youth Boost.

“We’re well on track to meeting our target of 8,000 jobs, just over 12 months into this two-year program.

“There are a further 581 pending applications being processed, as more and more employers take up the great incentives Back to Work offers.”

Jobs Supported by the Back to Work Regional Jobs Program

• Far North Queensland 1,427
• North Queensland 1,251
• Mackay-Whitsunday 902
• Central Queensland 943
• Wide Bay 1,229
• North West Queensland 226
• South West Queensland 279
• South East Queensland 8 (with a further 23 pending applications and 350 inquiries from employers)

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. 

*Eligibility criteria applies

Businesses can visit www.qld.gov.au/backtowork or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for more information about Back to Work, or to apply for an employer support payment.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548