Youth unemployment rises

YOUTH unemployment in Gippsland is rising as the State Government’s regional jobs crisis continues, according to The Nationals’ Eastern Victoria Region MLC Melina Bath.
Australia Bureau of Statistics’ data for June shows the region’s youth unemployment rate is 15.8 percent, compared with the non-metropolitan average of 10.1 percent.
“The ABS figures show that youth unemployment in Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley is rising, up three percent from June last year and 4.6 percent since Daniel Andrews came to office,” Ms Bath said.
Ms Bath said the premier was failing the region’s youth when he should be providing critical support so they could get a good start in the workforce.
Labor’s Eastern Victoria Region MLC Harriet Shing said, “Youth unemployment rates often fluctuate. There’s no doubt there are many young people within our regional communities who need to overcome numerous barriers when it comes to finding and keeping a job.
“The Andrews Labor Government’s pipeline of infrastructure projects across, will offer opportunities for trainees, apprentices and cadets.
“We have also invested $63 million in Jobs Victoria for support programs and employment providers to target young jobseekers, and our Jobs Victoria Employment Network is also helping young people from the final years of schooling to access the skills and training they need to land their first job, and set up a meaningful career.”
Wendy Major, executive officer at South Gippsland Bass Coast Local Learning and Employment Network said when unemployment rates increase, young people were always the first to be impacted.
“We need to build stronger communities from within that demonstrate young people are a valuable investment in our local economy,” she said.
“As a community we can support young people by giving them the opportunity to develop real skills through work experiences such as industry placements, school based apprenticeships and volunteering.
“Construction, transport, agriculture, health, tourism, education and service industries are all areas of strong growth and youth employment potential across South Gippsland and Bass Coast.”

Lucky ones: from left, Kaitlyn Casbolt, Maya Kadarusman, Rhiannon Nicholls and Bec Norman are employed at Paradise Pizza in Leongatha. They are part of the 84.3 percent of the region’s youth who are employed.

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Posted by Jessica Anstice on Sep 19 2017. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry