Employed rate for Townsville lags most
TOWNSVILLE’S unemployment rate is one the highest in Queensland.
According to the Queensland regional labour force June figures, Townsville had the third- highest unemployment rate, with just the Outback ( 10.9 per cent) and Wide Bay ( 9.6 per cent) regions ahead of it.
The data revealed Townsville’s unemployment rate of 9.1 per cent was higher than the state average of 6 per cent.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the state’s unemployment rate had remained stable at 6.1 per cent.
This followed the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics latest Labour Force data, which showed the national trend unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent in July.
Ms Trad said 4400 jobs had been created across Queensland in the past month.
“This is the 22nd straight month of trend jobs growth, with thousands more people finding work this month alone,” Ms Trad said.
“The trend unemployment rate is also stable at 6.1 per cent, following the highs of 6.7 per cent under the Newman government.
“Across our economy we know businesses are feeling more confident to take people on and we are seeing that reflected in these results.”
According to the ABS, the trend unemployment rate was the lowest since 2012.
“Over the year to July, the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points,” ABS chief economist Bruce Hockman said.
“This continues the gradual decrease in the trend unemployment rate from late 2014 and is the lowest it has been since 2012.”
According to the ABS, yearon- year growth in trend employment was above average for most states and territories, except Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. The Northern Territory, NSW and Victoria had the strongest growth in trend employment.