Liam McNally
The unemployment rate in Melton dropped more than three per cent in 12 months, however council said there’s work to be done to provide jobs for Melton’s growing population.
In June 2021, Melton’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the state at 8.7 per cent, by June 2022, Melton’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 percent, according to recent data from the National Skills Commission.
In the same period Moorabool’s unemployment dropped from six to 3.9 per cent, and the Victorian unemployment rate went from 6.2 to 4.3 per cent.
Melton’s unemployment rate is tied to its rapid population growth creating more job opportunities, however there is potential for population growth to outpace job growth. The municipality is the third fastest growing in Australia, set to grow from a population of 216,000 to over 450,000 in the next 30 years.
Last financial year, 5,554 new residential greenfield lots, expected to deliver 13,400 new dwellings, were released in the City of Melton, the highest number in Victoria. In the same period the Rockbank-Mt Cottrell area had 2,138 new dwellings built, more than anywhere else in the country.
Melton Mayor Lara Carli said council has been working to support local businesses and attract good, long-term job opportunities for the community, but there’s still work to be done.
“From renewing our town centres, to working to attract some of Victoria’s biggest fulfilment centres located here, to landmark public works projects like the Melton Hospital and Cobblebank TAFE and five level crossing removals, Council is working to support the delivery of local jobs, growth and opportunities for our residents,” she said.
“Whilst we welcome the news of decreased unemployment rates, there’s still so much more work to do. We’re projecting a 100,000 job shortfall by 2051 based on our booming population – and already over 70 per cent of our local workforce have to commute outside the city to work.
“We need urgent investment in long-term job creation projects here, locally. The Outer Metropolitan Ring and Western Interstate Freight Terminal have the potential to turn the City of Melton into Victoria’s freight and logistics capital and start to turn the tide of the local jobs gap.”
