State hit with 20,000 job losses as unemployment rate doubles

Two groups have been hit the hardest as unemployment in the state reaches its highest rate since the late 1990s.

NEARLY 20,000 jobs may have been lost in Tasmania in just two weeks because of the coronavirus, the worst result of any state.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of people out of work doubled in a fortnight — which has likely put the state’s unemployment rate above 10 per cent for the first time since the late 1990s.

The Weekly Payroll data released today shows that 7.3 per cent of the jobs in Tasmania disappeared between March 14 and April 4, equating to around 18,500 jobs lost in the two-week period

Women and young workers have been hit hardest by the downturn, the figures show.

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The number of jobs held by women declined by 8.4 per cent, while incomes for those aged under 20 fell by 11.8 per cent.

And 20 per cent of those aged over 70 who were still working are now unemployed.

Education and training was the hardest-hit industry, with a 30.9 per cent drop in employment, followed by accommodation and food services, which fell by 20.8 per cent. Arts and recreation services lost 15.3 per cent of jobs in that sector.

Health care and social assistance saw the only rise, a modest 1.5 per cent.

Tasmania’s unemployment rate was 5.3 per cent in March, but that was before the bulk of the shutdowns caused by the coronavirus had taken effect.

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Nationwide, the number of people employed fell by 6.0 per cent and wages fell by 6.7 per cent in the fortnight from March 14.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the result was expected.

“We know the restrictions necessary to protect Tasmanians from coronavirus are having a significant impact on jobs in Tasmania, and across Australia,’’ he said.

Labor Leader Rebecca White said the 7.3 per cent job loss was the biggest of any state or territory: “Not only that, but wages paid in Tasmania fell by 7.5 per cent over the same period, compared with the national average of 6.7 per cent,” Ms White said.