Jobs growth welcome, but Tasmania still worst state behind Victoria

Tasmanian Labor
  • Tasmanians still in record numbers on unemployment queue
  • More than 7,200 Tasmanian jobs gone
  • No time for complacency with unemployment at 8.2 per cent
  • Shadow Treasurer David O’Byrne has welcomed employment growth of 1.1 per cent over the past fortnight – but Tasmania still remains the worst state in the country behind Victoria.

    Mr O’Byrne said with the unemployment rate at 8.2 per cent, the Gutwein Government was still failing to get Tasmanians back into the workforce.

    “We are still down 2.8 per cent from the mid-March level of employment and that equates to more than 7,200 jobs gone,” Mr O’Byrne said.

    “Total wages are also down 2.8 per cent – the third-worst result behind WA and NSW.

    “Tasmanian males are the worst affected with men’s employment down 4.6 per cent and men’s wages have decreased by 5.8 per cent.

    “And while jobs have been gained over the past month, the job losses remain significant across every industry sector including accommodation and food services, agriculture, fishing and forestry and construction.

    “The finance, insurance, transport, postal and warehousing sectors are emerging as new areas of concern

    “Peter Gutwein’s tunnel vision focus on building and construction in his recent Budget ignores the fact that nearly half the people who’ve lost their jobs are in hospitality and primary industries.

    “The Premier has no plan for jobs – his only plan is for continuing unemployment, with no plan to reduce the unemployment rate.

    “Only Labor’s jobs plan offers the economy-wide recovery Tasmania needs.”

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