Jobs bonanza for Sydney’s west as region records strong employment growth
GROWTH in the healthcare, construction, and retail sectors have helped Western Sydney post its strongest employment numbers in almost 20 years, cementing the region’s place as the “economic powerhouse” of NSW.
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WESTERN Sydney has posted its strongest employment growth since the Federal Government started recording figures for the region.
The latest data, obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, reveals over the past year, job numbers increased by 54,600, or 3.6 cent, to stand at 1,325,300 in May.
Full-time work also rose, up by 40,200, while part-time jobs were up 14,400.
The unemployment rate in Western Sydney dropped by 0.7 per cent over the year to 4.9 per cent, the lowest since the government began collecting regional workforce data in September 1999.
“Western Sydney is an economic powerhouse of NSW and the Turnbull Government is creating the right policy settings to enable business to do what it does best: create more and better paying jobs,” Federal Minister for Jobs and Innovation Michaelia Cash said.
“Take the Eastern Creek company Vitex Pharmaceuticals for example, a complementary medicine contract manufacturer.
“Its $100 million facility was opened by the Prime Minister in 2017.
“In November 2017, Vitex had 40 employees; it now has 140 and is building its workforce to 440 jobs by 2019.”
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The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed employment growth in Western Sydney was split fairly evenly between men and women.
Youth unemployment also recorded its best result since 1999 with the rate standing at 9.1 per cent.
Healthcare was the biggest employer with 150,800 workers, making up 11.4 per cent of the total labour force.
This was followed by construction (144,600 workers) and retail (138,500).
The manufacturing sector was the fourth biggest employer with 116,600 workers but overall, employment numbers in the industry had fallen over the year by 10,800.
Other industries where job growth declined included the arts and recreation, admin and electricity, gas and water services.
“Confidence is stronger than ever in the home of the smart jobs of Australia,” Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres said.
“We are making opportunities for every cafe owner, boiler maker, nurse and pilot to land their dream job, right here in Western Sydney.”