Tasmanian jobs have fallen by 9.5 per cent since mid-March

Tasmania has suffered the highest percentage of COVID-19 job losses of any state in Australia, with one group hit the worst — but Premier Peter Gutwein says things are set to improve.

TASMANIA has seen the most per capita job losses of any state since the COVID-19 outbreak, but there are blue skies ahead, Premier Peter Gutwein says.

New ABS data shows Tasmanian jobs have fallen by 9.5 per cent since mid-March — the most of any state or territory. Nationally, jobs dropped 7.5 per cent.

People line up outside the Centrelink office in Hobart. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Accommodation and food services jobs decreased by 29.1 per cent and arts and recreation services down 26.3 per cent.

STATE HIT WITH 20,000 JOB LOSSES AS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOUBLES

Labor treasury spokesman David O’Byrne said of concern was the disproportionate number of women who had lost their jobs — 11.1 per cent compared to 7.7 per cent of men.

“These figures clearly show that more needs to be done to help Tasmania recover, but the government’s upcoming removal of JobKeeper will undoubtedly make things worse,” he said. “The government’s focus on infrastructure projects for its recovery package will help the building and construction industry, but it is far too narrow to deal with an economy-wide hit.”

Labor treasury spokesman David O’Byrne. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr O’Byrne said the figures reinforced why the State Government must set a clear timeline for border restrictions in Tasmania to be lifted.

Premier Gutwein said Tasmania was not immune to the disruptions COVID-19 had on economies nationally.

“That is why we are rebooting the economy with a record construction blitz over two years, underpinning around 15,000 jobs,” he said.

“Importantly, in early signs of recovery, jobs increased 0.3 per cent in the last week of May, with those aged 20 and under increasing by 1.9 per cent.”