The unemployment rate for the Lyne electorate has dropped again, to a record low of 5.3 per cent.
The lowest ever jobless rate recorded in the electorate’s history has been welcomed by Lyne Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, who four years ago inherited an unemployment rate of almost 10 per cent in some Mid-North Coast communities.
“At 5.3 per cent, the jobless rate in Lyne is now just 0.1 per cent above the national and state rates,” he said.
The unemployment figure for the September quarter in 2008, when Mr Oakeshott was elected to the federal parliament, was 2.3 per cent higher than the NSW rate and 2.7 per cent higher than the national rate.
“In 2008, these numbers were indicative of the entrenched two per cent-plus gap between local and state jobless levels that had come to be accepted by 60 years of National Party representation,” Mr Oakeshott said.
The figures released this week follow the Small Area Labour Market data for the June Quarter 2012 — the best ever figures recorded for the electorate — which was published in the last week of September.
“I don’t deny these are incredibly challenging times for many local businesses, nor do I deny the real possibility of job losses in the future, but I will not deny good news when we get it. This labour market data is good news that deserves acknowledgement,” he said.
Mr Oakeshott said it was no accident the jobless rates were at historic lows.
“In less than two weeks, we’ll host our fourth jobs expo; an initiative that has placed more than 600 Manning, Hastings and Macleay valley residents into real jobs,” he said.
The next Mid-North Coast Jobs and Skills Expo will be at the Taree PCYC in Commerce Street on Wednesday, November 7.
Mr Oakeshott is also encouraging anyone interested in the work underway on the Mid-North Coast to place local residents into jobs, to read the Mid-North Coast Education, Skills and Jobs Plan.
“This is a local strategy that has been developed over the past four years, with many local leaders, and has been formally adopted by the Commonwealth Government. At its heart, though, it remains a local jobs implementation strategy for our region,” he said.
“Right now, we are achieving the lowest unemployment rates in the history of the electorate of Lyne.
“Of greater significance, is that we have now closed the gap between local unemployment rates, and those at a state and national equivalence. Previously, this gap has sat at a very stubborn two per cent difference.
“A key part of our strategy is to couple together local education and local jobs strategies. Previously, these two have happened in isolation, but now we are working them very much together.
“Our region still has challenges on the jobs front. Our participation rate is remaining stubborn, and how we engage more locals in education and work remains one of our biggest challenges,” Mr Oakeshott said.
The plan can be read online by visiting roboakeshott.com and go to Issues Affecting Lyne.
