Cheers at jobs boost

THE State Government has lauded jobs growth in Tasmania, after new statistics showed 700 jobs were created in September, based on trend terms.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ monthly release of labour force data also showed total state employment had risen to more than 250,000.

The state’s unemployment rate held at 6.4 per cent. This compared to the national rate of 5.3 per cent.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the unemployment rate was 1 per cent lower than when the Government came to office.

“Such strong results do not happen by accident, they reflect the Hodgman Liberal Government’s long-term vision and plan to grow the economy which is leading the country and creating jobs,’’ he said.

“Since we came to office nearly 1600 new small businesses have begun operation and Tasmania is now leading the nation in many key indicators, including having the fastest growing economy in the country, for the first time in 15 years.”

Labor’s treasury spokesman David O’Byrne said the improvement reflected in the figures was long overdue.

“It’s nice that after a year of job losses and deterioration in the participation rate, we have some good news,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“Labor always welcomes more jobs for Tasmanians but this is no time for complacency.

“The jobless rate is among the worst in the nation and 3500 full-time jobs have been lost since the election.

“Will Hodgman promised before the last election to turn around our underemployment rate, that is people who can’t get the hours they need, which is comfortably the worst in the nation.”