Regional Victoria’s jobs boom continues with the regional unemployment rate dropping to its lowest level in almost seven years.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today shows 6,500 jobs were created in regional Victoria in the three months to July alone.
This has sent the regional unemployment rate down 0.8 percentage points in the three months to July to 4.7 per cent – the lowest level since December 2011 and well below the national rate of 5.5 per cent.
This is in stark contrast to the regional unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent the Andrews Labor Government inherited from the former Liberal and National Government.
In more good news for Victoria, four in five of the 6,500 jobs created in the three months to July were full time.
It means that since November 2014, there have been 39,700 new full-time jobs created in regional Victoria – compared to the 14,100 full time jobs that were lost under the former Liberal and National Government.
Both Bendigo and Shepparton recorded significant jobs growth, with 8.2 per cent and 6.1 per cent increases respectively and were the strongest performing regions in Victoria.
Since November 2014, 48,600 jobs have been created in regional Victoria – a 7.4 per cent increase – with most of these full-time positions.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“This is fantastic news for regional and rural Victoria, with more people in work supporting local families and communities.”
“As we cut payroll tax and provide record boosts to investment in our regions, we’re helping grow local economies and with it create jobs and opportunity.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Whether it’s building new hospitals, investing in new schools for our kids, or improving our roads and rail – we’re delivering for all Victorians and giving regional Victoria what it needs to thrive.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020