Victoria's labour market continues to perform strongly, with data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing that jobs growth is booming in regional Victoria.
The figures for the June quarter show that regional Victoria’s three-month average unemployment rate has dropped from 6.7 per cent in March to 5.6 per cent in June – the biggest drop in the country – to now sit below Australia’s regional rate.
In the three months to June, an additional 15,800 regional Victorians found employment, with 5100 of those jobs, full time.
Employment growth was particularly good in the Geelong and North West Victorian regions with 9500 people and 4700 people employed respectively.
In the Shepparton region, the three month average unemployment rate was 3.4 per cent, down from 5.6 per cent three months ago, and 8.2 per cent at the same time last year.
The figures come on the back of last week’s ABS data which shows that in the year to June, there were an extra 112,900 people in full-time work across Victoria.
These figures stand in stark contrast to the record of the previous Liberal National Government, which in four years could only create 17,000 full time jobs.
The level of Victorian employment is now 147,400 persons higher than in November 2014.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“These figures confirm that throughout the state, the Andrews Labor Government’s focus on job creation is paying dividends – with more Victorians employed than ever before.”
“We promised Victorians that we’d invest in them, build a strong economy and create jobs – and this is translating to more opportunities for all Victorians.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan
"The Andrews Labor Government is leading the way to create job opportunities and drive economic growth across regional Victoria."
“We have created more jobs in the 18 months since we came to power than the Liberal Government managed to achieve in four slow years.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020