Queensland’s nation-leading jobs recovery grows stronger

After being the first state to recover all its jobs lost during the COVID pandemic, Queensland continues to see strong employment growth according to the latest ABS Labour Force data.

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said another 23,300 jobs were added during March – equivalent to more than 750 Queensland jobs added per day.

“Today’s Labour Force data shows the Palaszczuk Government’s economic recovery plan is working,” Mr Dick said.

“Queensland was already leading the nation in job creation out of COVID-19, and that positioned has been strengthened with these latest numbers.

“This is good news for Queensland, but it’s particularly good news for the 23,300 Queenslanders who now have jobs.

“Queensland is now further above the pre-COVID level of jobs than any other state or territory.

“There are now 62,800 more jobs in Queensland than there were in March last year, and almost 60 per cent of these are full-time positions.

“This result also means almost 320,000 Queenslanders have found new jobs since the Palaszczuk Government was first elected in 2015.”

Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said overwhelmingly these jobs have been in the private sector, which lends itself to greater industry investment and more job opportunities in the future.

“For every job we’ve created, particularly on our frontline services, another six jobs have been added elsewhere in the economy,” Ms Farmer said.

“Queensland has seen the highest percentage point increase in labour force participation of the states over the past 12 months.  

“That means more people are coming to Queensland, more people are seeking work in Queensland, and more people are finding work in Queensland.

“These are all major positives for our state and come off the back of our Unite and Recover plan for jobs, skills and training.”

This new Labour Force data takes in the final month where JobKeeper was in place. 

Mr Dick said with JobKeeper now cut by the federal government, it’s likely there will be rough headwinds looming for employment.

“We will have to wait another month to see how badly Queenslanders have been impacted by the Commonwealth’s JobKeeper cut-off,” he said.

“And we’re putting the Morrison Government on notice – if unemployment worsens next month, it will be on them, because they cut JobKeeper without suitable support measures to replace it.

“With all these delays to the vaccine rollout, it’s the last thing they should have cut.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government is calling on the Commonwealth to reinstate JobKeeper, at a minimum, for our affected industries in international tourism.”

ENDS

Media contact: Ben Doyle 0400 775 561

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Change in employment to March 2021 (seasonally adjusted)