May jobless rates drop

NEW data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the Toowoomba region is one of the best performing local government areas in Queensland in terms of unemployment levels.

This comes after the April labour force figures indicated a 12.2 per cent unemployment rate in the region, one of the worst in Queensland.

Mayor Paul Antonio said he was shocked to read unemployment had risen to a high for April, but was heartened to see May’s much lower figure of 6.2 per cent.

“The figure is much closer to what we are hearing from local industry,” Cr Antonio said.

“We will not celebrate until the more reliable quarterly local government unemployment figures are released in

July.

“Announcements like this create confidence in the labour market for Toowoomba region residents.”

Cr Antonio said it was industries such as health, education and agriculture that allowed Toowoomba to handle unforeseen events like the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our unemployment rate continues to sit below both the state (7.9 per cent) and national (7.1 per cent) averages which is heartening after recent data from the ABS indicated the rate was considerably higher,” he said.

“Fortunately, youth unemployment figures have followed the same trend with April levels of 21 per cent, falling to 13.9 per cent in May.

“These figures are still high in several regional areas throughout Queensland and Australia and need to be addressed by all levels of government as a matter of urgency.

“There’s no doubt COVID-19 has impacted the Toowoomba region, as it has in all parts of the world.

“However, it is comforting to see that we are one of the strongest performing regions in Queensland.”

Cr Antonio said it was important all levels of government, local, state and federal, worked collaboratively together to see the community through this challenging economic time.