JobKeeper: Just over 330,000 people currently on government scheme

The federal government says its recovery plan from the COVID-19 pandemic is tracking better than it had anticipated, with a sharp decline in those using JobKeeper.

NSW’s post-COVID economic rebound is travelling better than expected, with just 330,000 ­employees receiving JobKeeper payments in January — a fall of 73 per cent from the first phase of the program.

The government originally projected that 489,000 employees in NSW would have ­remained on the program in January.

And across the country, workers in industries including accommodation and food services, retail, and wholesale trade moved off the program in unexpectedly large numbers, with overall 90 per cent of the 1.3 million workers who originally lost their job due to the pandemic back at work.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has praised Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The data suggests that reg­ional NSW is better placed than originally anticipated to weather the end of the JobKeeper program, which winds up on Sunday.

“The final JobKeeper numbers for the month of January confirm that Australia’s economic recovery is broad based across all states, regions and industries,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said yesterday.

“Our economic recovery plan will continue to support the economy through targeted support measures as well as tax cuts, business incentives and a record ­investment in skills and training and infrastructure.”