Sunshine Coast unemployment falls
6 October, 2004
Total unemployment on the Sunshine Coast has fallen by half a
per cent and shows a continuing robust local economy according to
the latest analysis by the Sunshine Coast Research Institute of
Business Enterprise (SCRIBE).
SCRIBE is a research institute at the University of the Sunshine
Coast.
Based on the SCRIBE assessment, unemployment had fallen from 8.3
per cent in the March quarter to 7.8 per cent for the latest June
quarter.
The information is based on data from the Australian Government
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations smoothed
series.
This level of unemployment represented one of the lowest the
Sunshine Coast has experienced for a number of years.
In 2000 the unemployment rate for the region was 11.4 per
cent.
SCRIBE also highlighted the disparities between the different
local government areas on the Sunshine Coast in relation to
unemployment, with Maroochy Shire having the lowest level on 7.4
per cent, followed by Caloundra at 7.8 per cent and Noosa with 8.9
per cent.
These falls in unemployment are encouraging and reflect the
continuing growth of the Sunshine Coast economy said SCRIBE
Director Dr Scott Prasser.
Dr Prasser pointed out that despite the fall in Sunshine Coast
unemployment to 7.8 per cent, it was still higher than the
Queensland average 6.2 per cent, and the Australian level of 5.8
per cent for the comparable time period.
However, Dr Prasser stressed that the disparities between the
Sunshine Coast unemployment levels and the rest of Australia have
narrowed considerably in recent years.
In 2000, the Sunshine Coast's unemployment level was almost
twice the Australian average.
This narrowing of the past discrepancy between the region and
the nation is a good sign for the future of the Sunshine Coast
economy.
"We still have a long way to go to develop a diverse and
sustainable economy that can provide long term jobs to all those
who want to live in the region, however these latest indicators are
a positive," Dr Prasser said.
Contact details: Dr Scott Prasser
(07) 5459 4494