In yet more worrying economic news since Jeremy Rockliff’s government went into minority, jobs and unemployment appear to be taking a turn for the worse – but only in Tasmania.
Seasonally adjusted ABS data released today shows Tasmania experienced the sharpest rise in the unemployment rate in the country, saw 200 jobs go, and now has the highest unemployment rate of any state or territory at 4.2%.
This is in contrast to the rest of country, which saw 76,000 jobs added and the unemployment rate fall to just 3.6%.
Youth unemployment has also risen in Tasmania for the second consecutive month and now stands at a concerning 12.4%.
These worrying jobs figures come on the back of news last week that showed Tasmania was the only state whose domestic economy has contracted for the previous two quarters, data showing Tasmania is the only state with falling exports, building approvals dropping nearly 20% over the past year, Federal Government data which showed 1,000 additional Tasmanians started claiming JobSeeker in April, and worrying consumer confidence data released yesterday by ANZ.
Jeremy Rockliff and his minority Liberal government have their priorities all wrong – and Tasmanians are paying the price with their jobs.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
