Today’s ABS Labour Force data for December 2020 confirms that Tasmania’s economic recovery is well underway and a significant number of jobs are returning.
In December, 800 more Tasmanians gained employment taking the total of those employed to 254,100, and over three quarters of those who lost their job during the pandemic have now returned to work.
Our unemployment rate continues to fall, with a significant drop of nearly one percentage point which is now more in line with the national rate.
In further good news, Tasmania also saw the highest increase in hours worked during the month of any state, growing 1.3 per cent in December, and hours worked are now higher than one year earlier.
The Government is focussed on growing our economy, getting more Tasmanians back into work, driving our unemployment rate down even further, and rebuilding a stronger Tasmania.
The State Budget provides a landmark $5 billion infrastructure program across the next four years to support around 25,000 jobs. This backs Tasmanian businesses by making it easier for them to employ with a $22 million investment to significantly boost jobs for apprentices, trainees and youth employees.