Amid continued economic headwinds, regional Victoria remains ahead of the rest of regional Australia on jobs growth, having recorded the nation’s lowest regional unemployment rate.
New Australian Bureau of Statistics data confirms more than 23,000 people found a job in regional Victoria in the three months to December – an increase of 3.3 per cent, the largest increase of the states.
Regional Victoria’s unemployment rate also remains consistently low at 3.7 per cent – the lowest in the nation and well below the national average of 5 per cent.
Victorian regional hubs that are experiencing particularly strong jobs growth include:
- Ballarat, with 9,200 new jobs
- Geelong, with 7,600 new jobs
- Latrobe-Gippsland, with 4,200 new jobs.
The latest data highlights the Andrews Labor Government’s continued investment in regional Victoria, including the landmark Regional Health Infrastructure Fund and the Delivering for Regional and Rural Victoria program.
Since the Labor Government was first elected in November 2014, more than 76,000 jobs have been created in regional Victoria, while the unemployment rate has decreased by 2.8 per cent.
That is the largest decrease in the nation in that period.
The Labor Government continues to focus on the needs of regional communities, including the investment of $136 million to deliver 500,000 extra appointments with medical specialists for patients in regional Victoria.
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 also invested $64.4 million to support strong patient ratios and deliver an extra 542 nurses and midwives to our hospitals.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
“Despite the difficult national and international economic conditions, our infrastructure boom is creating thousands of new jobs across the state, helping more regional Victorians build great lives for themselves and their families.”
“Victoria’s strong economic management and unprecedented investment in health, education, roads and public transport continues to create jobs in regional Victoria.”
Reviewed 30 July 2020