After months of chaos, the Rockliff-Ferguson government is off to a weak start, with wild swings in the unemployment rate providing little confidence in their ability to manage the economy.
The latest jobs data shows a rise in Tasmania’s unemployment rate to 4.5 per cent, making it the second highest in the nation.
Alarmingly, almost 4,000 jobs were lost in March.
The labour force also shrank by 2,400 and the participation rate fell 0.6 per cent to 60.9 per cent – the lowest in the country – with the national rate sitting on 66.4 per cent.
One of the most concerning figures is the youth unemployment rate, which has jumped to 12.9 per cent – the highest in the nation – with Tasmania the only state in double figures.
Among Tasmania’s young people, 1,400 full-time jobs were lost and 1,300 young Tasmanians became unemployed.
It is little wonder that young people are leaving the state in record numbers.
The Liberals have been in turmoil for months, and now we have massive job losses, a rising unemployment rate and the highest level of youth unemployment in the country.
This isn’t what Tasmanians voted for. The new Premier urgently needs to refocus his Government on the basics of economic management – jobs, wages and cost of living.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
