Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Treasury spokesperson
The latest ABS jobs data reveals there are 3900 fewer Tasmanians in work than there were last September in trend terms.
It is positive to see a small decline in unemployment according to the ABS data and a growth in secure, full time employment. In eight months, however, almost 4000 people lost their job in Tasmania.
After a strong period of jobs growth beginning in early 2013, under the previous Labor Green Government, jobs growth has been on a downward trajectory in the State since about six months after the Liberals came to office.
We hear a lot of rhetoric from Liberal Ministers about ‘growing jobs’ in Tasmania, but sadly for those workers who have lost their jobs, the ABS data doesn’t match the spin.
The Liberals need to develop an evidence based plan for sustainable future jobs growth that is underpinned by Tasmania’s competitive strengths.
The Greens have been calling on the Premier to create a specific Employment portfolio with a dedicated Minister to focus on sustainable jobs growth in Tasmania.
There is huge untapped human potential within our community, particularly amongst young Tasmanians, mature age workers and former humanitarian entrants – all cohorts who struggle to find work in the State.
With workforce participation on the slide according to the ABS, there is a clear and pressing need for a dedicated Minister for Employment to develop a Workforce Participation Plan – a proposal put forward by TasCOSS – to secure long term jobs growth.