Townsville youth employment at highest since 2016

Townsville has recorded a boom in youth employment as figures show a resurgence of employers’ confidence in sourcing young workers to join their team.

• Townsville unemployment rate tipped to drop below 7 per cent

Townsville has recorded a boom in youth employment as figures show a resurgence of employers’ confidence in sourcing young workers to join their team.

CBC Staff Selection data shows 20,700 people aged between 15 and 24 were employed in the region in August.

This is up 26 per cent from the height of the coronavirus shutdown in April when 16,400 people under the age of 24 held a job.

Amy Keys, 18, employee at Me, Myself and Coffee. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It is the highest youth employment since May 2016.

Mount Low resident Amy Keys joined the workforce in June after starting at Me, Myself and Coffee in North Ward.

The 18-year-old had been working for her parents before becoming a waitress.

Ms Keys said she valued the security gained from holding down a job.

Amy Keys, 18, employee at Me, Myself and Coffee. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I love waitressing and all the girls are really fun and its nice to be about heaps of different people,” she said.

“It is good to get on your feet and be independent and to be able to do your own thing.”

CBC Staff Selection director Sally Mlikota said the uplifting figures “boosted the liveability of Townsville”.

Originally published as Townsville youth employment at highest since 2016