Jobs in Victorian regional communities have risen to their highest ever, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Victoria’s regional unemployment rate was the equal lowest in the country in October, figures released by the ABS on November 23 show, as 4400 more Victorians secured work in regional areas.
The regional unemployment rate of 2.8 per cent is lower than the national average of 3.3 per cent.
The ABS reports that in Warrnambool and the South West the unemployment rate is 0.9 per cent and in the Shepparton region it is 1 per cent.
In Bendigo and surrounds the jobless rate is 1.6 per cent and in the North-west it is 2.4 per cent.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said confident businesses create jobs and make communities stronger.
“It’s fantastic to see employment continuing to grow across the state,” he said.
“There has never been more people in work in regional Victoria and that provides security and confidence for families planning for the future.”
The Deloitte Access Economics (DAE) Business Outlook report forecasts Victoria’s economic growth will outpace all other states over the next five years and annual average jobs growth will lead the nation over the same period.
The most recent ABS population figures show Victoria’s population rose by 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to March.
Victoria’s population growth led the country before the pandemic and the return to strong growth is a measure of confidence in the economy.
