Coronavirus unemployment by suburb: Which NSW regions are experiencing high jobless rates
Shocking new unemployment data has pinpointed the suburbs worst affected by the COVID-19 financial crisis across the state. FIND OUT THE REGIONS IMPACTED THE WORST HERE.
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The latest regional workforce data has revealed suburbs in Sydney’s south west and greater Parramatta regions are witnessing some of the highest unemployment rates in the state, as the COVID-19 financial crisis continues to wreak havoc on household incomes.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, state electorates including Liverpool, Cabramatta, Fairfield and Camden in Sydney’s south west have experienced the unemployment rate rise a who two per cent above the state average — with 7.3 per cent of the population currently out of work.
A massive 20.7 per cent of youth are also currently unemployed in Sydney’s southwest.
Meanwhile, in Greater Parramatta, electorates including Parramatta, Auburn, Granville, Seven Hills and Prospect have seen the unemployment rate rise to 6.3 per cent.
A whopping 15.4 per cent of youth in the geographical heart of Sydney are relying on government subsidies.
Workers in Penrith and the Blue Mountains have faired somewhat better in the jobs market than their neighbours, with the unemployment rate at 5.7 per cent — just .4 per cent higher than the state average.
However, youth unemployment on the outskirts of Sydney has risen to 13.6 per cent.
Sydney’s inner city suburbs are next on the list with a 4.9 per cent unemployment rate, while the northern beaches has seen an increase to 4.4 per cent of workers depending on JobKeeper and other government handouts to stay afloat.
Areas including Sutherland and Cronulla, as well asNorth Sydneyregions including the Hawkesbury, The Hills, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai continue to weather the COVID-19 financial storm with some of the lowest unemployment rates in the state.
The Central Coast and Newcastle are experiencing unemployment rates of 4.9 and 6.2 per cent respectively, as regional areas like Wagga Wagga and the Upper Hunter are witnessing 5.3 and 4.8 per cent of the working population unemployed.
While regions down south in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands have surprisingly witnessed a significant reduction in unemployment rates since the start of the COVID-19 financial crisis, with a 1.6 per cent drop from 8.5 to 6.9 per cent across the region.
Bega is below the state average with 4.1 per cent of the population out of work, while their neighbours in the south coast electorate are worse off with a 5.9 per cent unemployment rate.
Social Demographer Mark McCrindle said COVID-19 had “whacked the Australian economy — and as a result jobless rates are rising”.
“Thankfully unemployment rates haven’t hit double digits as predicted in coronavirus modelling,” Mr McCrindle told NewsLocal. “However, these statistics don’t include underemployment rates, so what we are seeing at first glance isn’t the full story.
“The reality is a lot worse than the official unemployment rate suggests.”
Mr McCrindle said working young people continue to bare the brunt of the financial storm, a youth unemployment rates skyrocket.
“A lot of young people are in part time or casual roles and are able to be stood down,” he said.
“We have conducted our own research to suggest that although young people are the least impacted by COVID-19 health wise, they are the worst hit in the financial scenario.”
Meanwhile, the social demographer said the south coast and other regional areas continue to see impacts from industry, rather than age.
“A lot is being done to support young people from an economic standpoint,” he said.
“But the other key factors isn’t just the money, the real question is are we doing enough to train and develop people without jobs during this financial crisis?
“Training, development, social connections and mentorship for young people is key right now.”
More than 115,000 people enrolled in the NSW Government’s fee-free COVID-19 support short courses before the cut off earlier this month.
Skills and Tertiary Education Minister Geoff Lee said he hoped the courses have assisted people “during this difficult time”.