Truth elusive in job stats analysis

TASMANIA’S jobless rate crept up in December to 6.0 per cent with an increase of 100 unemployed people.

New Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of employed persons has levelled off during the past three months at 245,900.

Full-time jobs were stable at 152,800 but have trended down since June 2017 when they reached a high of 154,400.

Unemployment figures are seen as a key statistic for the State Government in the runup to the state election.

The figures show that there are 10,628 more jobs than when the Hodgman Government was elected in March, 2014.

Of those, 1000 of the jobs are full-time with about 9500 classified as part-time.

Nationally the trend unemployment rate decreased slightly to 5.4 per cent in December 2017, after the November 2017 figure was revised up to 5.5 per cent.

ABS says Tasmania had 15,600 unemployed in December, up 100 from the 15,500 in November.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the latest number showed the unemployment rate was holding steady.

“Importantly we have nearrecord job numbers and since the election 10,600 new jobs have been created,” he said.

“A strong majority government delivering for Tasmania, that’s the message.”

Labor Treasury spokesman Scott Bacon said the Government had ignored the trend from full-time to part-time jobs.

“Since June last year 1600 Tasmanians have lost full-time work,” Mr Bacon said.

“Labor calls on the Liberals to at least acknowledge the trend so we can have a mature debate over Tasmania’s economy.

“Full-time employment allows Tasmanians to look after their families and invest in the economy with confidence.

“We need to reverse the trend from full-time and permanent work to casual and part-time jobs.”