Liberals jump for joy over new labour force data as Labor expresses concern
While government celebrates record unemployment, the opposition claims 8700 jobs have ‘vanished’. Here’s what you need to know from the latest jobs data.
Tasmania
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New labour force data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has elicited contrasting reactions from Tasmania’s two major parties.
The state government has celebrated that unemployment remains at a record low, but Labor is concerned about the 8700 jobs that have “vanished” since May 2023.
The number of employed people in Tasmania has risen by 0.1 per cent to 279,700.
Meanwhile, the unemployment, underemployment, and participation rates remain unchanged at 4.1, 7.7, and 60.3 per cent respectively.
Treasurer Guy Barnett said that data shows that “Tasmania’s economy continues to be resilient”.
“This latest data has confirmed our labour market has remained steady – giving us a good base to launch into the New Year,” Mr Barnett said.
“We acknowledge that there are challenges facing Tasmania; however, we have laid a solid foundation to take Tasmania to new heights in 2025.
“Our Liberal Government will continue to back Tasmanian businesses and jobs.”
Mr Barnett said the most recent budget had almost $40m in new funding dedicated to supporting those going into the workforce.
“Our Regional Jobs Hubs have been a roaring success – with more than 4000 Tasmanians employed through these hubs, benefiting the entire State.
“We have invested $2.5m into our new Workforce Participation and Training Program over the next two years to ensure vulnerable Tasmanians are finding meaningful employment in our workforce.
“Our high vis army is complemented by two new training facilities – the $4.3m Earthworks Academy site at Quercus Park and the $4m Renewable Energy Training facility in the North West.
“When combined, these initiatives will help us to deliver the $27b infrastructure pipeline in Tasmania – that’s schools, bridges, roads, hospitals, housing, dams and more.”
However, Shadow Treasurer Josh Willie was less than impressed with the job figures.
“Premier Jeremy Rockliff famously said ‘don’t elect a minority government; it will crash the economy, and it will crash the health service’,” Mr Willie said.
“And it turns out it’s one of the few things he has got right. 8700 jobs have been lost since he sent his government into minority.
“It is a crisis for jobs.
“We need to see this government doing more in terms of development and job creation.”
Mr Willie said the business community had lost confidence in the state government.
“There’s been jobs lost in December and November. We have been unashamedly pro-development, pro-jobs.
“We’ve been announcing policies – policies that the Liberal Party has later accepted as their own.
“We need to see this government doing more.”
Mr Willie noted that Tasmania’s participation and underemployment rates were the worst in the country.
“That means there are many Tasmanian families who can’t get the work that they want to support their families.
“We need to do things like improve our education system, make sure there are basic things like childcare options for working families so they can participate in the workforce.”
Originally published as Liberals jump for joy over new labour force data as Labor expresses concern
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