Victoria is leading the nation with our unemployment rate the lowest in more than 10 years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirmed today.
The latest ABS data shows Victoria’s unemployment rate in December 2018 is the lowest since August 2008 at just 4.2 per cent – the equal lowest rate on record for Victoria – and the lowest of all the states, and well below the national average of 5 per cent.
Over the year to December 2018, more than 120,000 people found work in Victoria – with nearly 90,000 full time jobs – making Victoria’s employment growth rate the highest in the nation.
In December alone, more than 10,000 jobs were created in Victoria – that’s nearly half of all jobs created across Australia (21,600) during that period.
Victoria’s jobs boom has been supported by the Andrews Labor Government’s unprecedented investment in health, education, roads, public transport and infrastructure, which has led to a thriving economy and opportunities for businesses to grow and prosper.
Since the Labor Government was elected in November 2014, 438,000 people have found work in Victoria – more than anywhere else in the nation – with Victoria contributing more than a third of all jobs created across Australia.
Today’s data also shows Victoria’s unemployment rate has dropped 2.5 percentage points since the Labor Government came to office.
Quotes attributable to Acting Treasurer Robin Scott
“Our infrastructure agenda is putting more and more Victorians into jobs – we’re leading the nation in job creation and we're only just getting started."
“Free TAFE will help thousands of Victorians get the training they need to take advantage of this jobs boom.”
“These aren’t just figures – each one of these jobs gives Victorians and their families confidence in their finances and helps to grow the Victorian economy for a bright future for our state.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020