25 per cent Geelong region jobs in health, 15 per cent construction during August

Job vacancies in the Geelong region are dropping, with new data revealing the industries where jobs are still in demand.

Regional unemployment in Victoria has dropped to a “record low” and the number of job ads in the Geelong region also hit a low for 2021 in August.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows regional unemployment was 3.2 per cent across the three months to August 2021, a drop of 1.1 per cent in that time.

While data from the Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network collated from the Geelong Careers website shows new job listings in the G21 region hit 900 in August.

That’s down from 1080 in July, 1273 in June, 1276 in May and 1111 in April.

March was the most fruitful month for job ads this year on Geelong Careers with 1318 listed across the Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe council areas.

Health jobs dominated in August making up 26 per cent of all jobs listed on Geelong Careers followed by 15 per cent in trades and construction.

Across the first eight months of the year the unemployment rate within the Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe council areas has averaged three per cent, according to ABS data.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said regional Victoria had the lowest unemployment rate of all states and the “lowest on record.”

“This is remarkable achievement given the economic impacts of the pandemic,” Mr Pallas said.

“Our economy is much like regional Victoria – resilient. While we acknowledge this has been an unprecedented time for businesses and workers, these numbers are testament of your attitude and work ethic to simply get on with it.“

The unemployment rate in regional Victoria has decreased by 3.6 per cent since November 2014.

About 29,000 people found work in Victoria during August as the employment rate fell nationally. Across Victoria 288,000 people have found work since September 2020.

The state government cited the low regional payroll tax rate, sitting at a quarter of the metropolitan rate, as reason for strong employment numbers in regional Victoria.

The rate now sits at 1.2125 per cent which is “easily the lowest in the country” according to the state government.

Employment Minister Jaala Pulford said: “We are getting thousands of people into work through employment programs like our $619 million Jobs Victoria initiative, which will help thousands of people find work and gain economic independence.”

Since the start of the pandemic, the state government provided more than $10bn in economic support to businesses including $4.2bn in cash grants to 145,000 businesses since May.

About $28bn was paid to Victorians as part of the JobKeeper scheme.

ABS unemployment data for Victoria and other smaller regions like Geelong is extrapolated via a survey of 50,000 people nationally, across 20,000 households, each month.

Originally published as 25 per cent Geelong region jobs in health, 15 per cent construction during August