Local jobless rate down 1.6 per cent

That figure has fallen from 7.2 per cent since March 2016.

In more good news for the region the youth jobless rate has fallen to 12.3 per cent, down 2.6 per cent over the past year.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Curtis Pitt said the state government’s $100 million, two-year ‘Back to Work’ program had already been beneficiary to people looking for work.

“More than 2,700 unemployed Queenslanders were hired by more than 1,300 regional Queensland employers since July 2016,” Mr Pitt said.

“The state government is focused on job-creation and we are seeing some positive outcomes in today’s ABS figures showing reduced unemployment rates in some regions.”

Mr Pitt said the state government’s new trade and investment strategy will help drive local employment opportunities in regional Queensland. 

“Like our economic plan, the new strategy has a strong regional focus,” he said.

“Many firms will benefit from a strategy that highlights the need to build and innovate from traditional industries like mining, agriculture, tourism and education.

“The strategy will also expand up-and-coming sectors like renewables, biofutures, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.” 

Mr Pitt said the latest ABS figures for regional and regional youth unemployment highlighted the need for more government incentives to ensure regional employers are hiring unemployed or long-term unemployed jobseekers as well engaging 15-24 year olds. 

“Today’s figures reinforce that the Palaszczuk Government is correct in maintaining its focus on job-creation, especially in regional Queensland,” he said. 

“Job creation, along with the rebuilding from Tropical Cyclone Debbie, will be the focus of the upcoming state budget.” 

The state budget is expected to be released on June 13.