Victoria’s rate of regional job creation during the past 12 months continues to lead the nation, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The latest ABS figures show employment in regional Victoria has continued to increase in the past three months, with 22,500 more people employed in the regions than a year ago.
Since the Andrews Labor Government was elected in November 2014, employment in regional Victoria has increased by 35,200 people. By comparison, under the previous Liberal National Government, there were only 15,600 jobs created in regional Victoria in four years.
The data also showed that there had been a significant rise in jobs in the Latrobe Gippsland region, with employment up by 7,300 people in the last year.
Ballarat has also had a strong year, with the region’s unemployment rate now at 3.6 per cent – down from 8.2 per cent this time last year – with 10,200 more people from the Ballarat region now in jobs.
This latest data is consistent with jobs growth that leads the nation – with more jobs created in Victoria in the last year than the rest of the nation combined.
Further, since the Labor Government was elected in November 2014, more than 188,000 new jobs have been created across Victoria, 107,000 of which are full time. This points to an economy that is growing strongly and creating opportunities across the state.
This strength has also been evident in the construction sector, with the latest figures from the ABS showing a 2.4 per cent boost in construction activity in the December quarter – the highest of all states.
In the 12 months to December, Victorian construction activity was up by more than 5 per cent – a stark contrast to the rest of Australia which fell by nearly 8 per cent.
These construction figures are a direct reflection of the Labor Government’s strong infrastructure pipeline.
Government investment in infrastructure is now averaging $8.4 billion a year over the budget and forward estimates and compares with just $4.9 billion a year over the past 11 years.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“Victoria’s jobs growth and strong construction figures are the envy of the nation.”
“Despite the Federal Government short-changing Victorians, we’re getting on with ensuring Victoria is the best state in the nation for families to build a future.”
Quotes attributable to Minster for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan
“We are leading the way to create job opportunities and drive economic growth across regional Victoria.”
“We have created more jobs since we came to power than the Liberal Government managed to achieve in four slow years.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020