Job Vacancy rebound latest sign of strength for Queensland economy

Job vacancies in Queensland rose to their highest level on record in the three months to the end of November 2020 according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said the data demonstrated once again that Queensland’s strong health response and the delivery of our economic recovery plan are enabling Queensland’s economic recovery.

“Job vacancies increased to 47,900 in the November quarter, according to the ABS,” the Treasurer said.

“That’s close to double the 25,200 vacancies seen in the May quarter last year, the period which covered the tightest COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland.

“Because of our strong health response, we’ve been able to ease restrictions faster and more broadly than other large states, and today’s data underlines that again.

“In annual terms, Queensland job vacancies increased by 22% - the highest level on the east coast and well above the national average of 12%.

“We know the recovery from COVID-19 has a long way to go, and as the last week has shown it won’t always be smooth sailing.

“There will still be businesses that are doing it tough, but this shows the jobs market is continuing to recover.

“The willingness of Queenslanders to follow the health advice and keep our community safe puts us in the strongest possible position for what we know will be a journey that will take years to recover from COVID.”

The Treasurer said it was particularly pleasing to see the vast majority of job vacancies were in the private sector.

“Through the worst of COVID last year we know it was our frontline workers who kept Queensland safe,” the Treasurer said.

“As our economy continues to open up, it’s vital we can instil the confidence in the private sector to employ more people, and that’s what these figures show.

“44,000 job vacancies, or nearly 92% of those across the November quarter, came from the private sector.”

Media Contact: Geoff Breusch        0417 272 875