Queensland unemployment at its lowest rate in more than 12 years

The Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan is working, with the latest ABS Labour Force data showing Queensland unemployment at its lowest level since April 2009.

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said 16,700 jobs were added in the month of June – the highest increase in the nation and more than half of all jobs created in Australia.

“Today’s Labour Force jobs data highlights once again that Queensland is the place to work, to do business and to invest,” Mr Dick said.

“Our unemployment rate is now at 5.1 per cent, down 0.3 percentage points from last month and at a level not seen in more than 12 years.

“Since the Palaszczuk Labor Government was first elected in 2015 we’ve created 354,100 jobs for Queensland.

“More than 500 new jobs were added every day last month, and with our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan in full swing we’ll look to build on these numbers further in the months and years ahead.”

Queensland was the first state in Australia to recover all its jobs lost during the pandemic.

Mr Dick said Queensland’s laser-like focus on economic recovery has led to a strong and speedy bounceback in employment.

“We are now 101,600 jobs above our pre-COVID level of March 2020, almost four times that of New South Wales,” he said.

“Incredibly, since the depths of the pandemic in May last year, we’ve gone on to create 300,000 jobs, around 30 per cent of all jobs nationwide.

“To put that number in perspective, the population of Cairns is roughly 150,000.

“But there’s no time to rest on these results, we’ll continue to invest in our economic recovery, in jobs, and in a brighter future for all Queenslanders.”

Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said it’s clear the Palaszczuk Government’s plan for COVID economic recovery is delivering for Queensland.

“Our state has been through some very difficult times thanks to the global pandemic. In July 2020 we had an unemployment rate of 8.7 per cent, so to see that now down to 5.1 per cent shows our significant investment to help Queenslanders get back to work is paying dividends,” Ms Farmer said.

“In human terms, there are 16,700 more Queenslanders in work now than there were in May. That’s life-changing news for 16,700 Queensland families.

“In the last week I have announced two new Regional Jobs Committees – one in Bundaberg and one on the Gold Coast – to join the existing six committees.

“It’s localised investment and solutions like this that are going to keep our economy growing and keep getting people into jobs.”

Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Budget was handed down last month.

To see the investments being made in more Queensland jobs, visit budget.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

Media contact: Ben Doyle 0400 775 561

Change in employment to June 2021 (seasonally adjusted)