COVID-19 unemployment: Impact on Ryde, Macquarie Park revealed
Shocking new data reveals the real economic impact of COVID-19 on Sydney’s northern districts with a sharp rise in unemployment. However, there is hope with hundreds of jobs currently listed in the area. CAN YOU OFFER A LOCAL A JOB?
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Graham Ross’s Beecroft travel agency calls for government help
- Vote now: Northern Sydney’s best personal trainer
New figures reveal the economic impact COVID-19 has had on the suburbs in and around Ryde and Macquarie Park.
The latest unemployment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 2600 residents were unemployed in the area as of August this year.
This compares to 2400 people who were out of work at the same time last year.
That equates to a rise in the region’s unemployment rate from 4.13 per cent to 5 per cent.
In comparison to elsewhere in the city, the area has done well in weathering the economic storm.
As of August this year the city and inner south suburbs had 4900 out of work up from 3500 last year.
Nearby North Sydney/Hornsby areas had 5900 unemployed this August compared to 3700 in 2019.
For men, the rate of unemployment in the Ryde and Macquarie Park areas increased from August 2019 to August 2020 from 4.72 per cent to 6.45 per cent.
Interestingly, the increase for women was lower from 3.48 per cent to 5 per cent.
However, it isn’t all doom and gloom with Joey Piazza among those to buck the trend and open a new business in recent weeks.
It may seem like odd timing but Mr Piazza, who also runs another cafe in Telopea, said his latest opening in Epping has been a success.
He said his cafe 2nd Chapter, which is in the Meriton complex at Mobbs Lane in Epping, has been popular given the shift in working habits with more people working from home.
“We're in a suburban area and the suburban areas are busier and thriving more than the city now with the majority of people working from home.”
Mr Piazza said that opening at the bottom of the apartment complex also “helped a lot.”
Meanwhile, some in the construction industry have said they have gained an “influx” of work during the pandemic.
Lyndell Dordevic, who is the director of construction business company Structen, said she has advertised two positions during the pandemic including a current vacancy for a site manager at a project in Sydney's northwest because of increased work.
Ms Dordevic said she was shocked when a position for one office role she put up attracted more than 500 applications a few months back.
“The applications came in thick and fast,” she said.
“There were a lot of over-qualified people who applied for the position.”
When asked how the pandemic has affected the 12-person business she said they have been “flat out.”
“We have been so busy and I'm so grateful we haven’t been too affected by it.”
And despite the ongoing financial disruption of the pandemic there are hundreds of jobs available locally, according to employment agency Adzuna.
There are currently 438 jobs advertised in Hunters Hill and Ryde areas.
Of that figure, the majority of jobs were advertised in the health and IT sectors with 63 and 44 jobs listed respectively.
There were 37 teaching jobs advertised in the area followed by 25 in engineering and 22 in accounting.
There are 16 hospitality job vacancies and 11 in construction were also listed.
The least amount of advertised jobs were in the charity, creative and manufacturing sectors
BREAKDOWN OF JOB VACANCIES IN HUNTERS HILL AND RYDE AREAS
Accounting 22
Administration and office support 4
Charity and voluntary 1
Consultancy 7
Creative and design 2
Customer services 10
Domestic help and cleaning 6
Engineering 25
Health and nursing 63
Hospitality and catering 16
HR and recruitment 5
IT 44
Logistic and warehouse 5
Manufacturing 2
PR/advertising 8
Property 2
Retail 15
Sales 13
Science 3
Social work 6
Teaching 37
Construction 11
Source: Adzuna (note: uncategorised other/general jobs not included)