Labour Force figures encouraging
11 Jun 2015
Media release The Government welcomes Labour Force figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that show the number of people employed rose by 42,000 in May, and the unemployment rate fell to 6.0 per cent from 6.1 per cent in April.
The number of people unemployed also fell by 22,000 over the month, to 745,200 in May.
Since the Government was elected, more than 280,000 new jobs have been created.
“The figures for May are encouraging and the Government remains focused on creating further job opportunities for Australians still out of work,” Acting Minister for Employment, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said today.
“For the year to date, employment growth stands at 111,200 compared to 42,700 over the same period in 2013 – during Bill Shorten’s last year as Employment Minister.”
The Government is implementing a positive economic strategy to deliver stronger jobs growth by:
- Investing $5.5 billion in the new Growing Jobs and Small Business package, including $3.25 billion in tax cuts for small business and $1.75 billion in accelerated depreciation measures, in addition to the benefits small business is gaining from the abolition of the carbon tax;
- Investing $6.8 billion in jobactive, the new employment services system, which will help unemployed Australians into sustainable jobs from 1 July;
- Investing a record $50 billion to build the infrastructure of the 21st Century; and
- Successfully negotiating Free Trade Agreements with key Asian trading partners China, Japan and Korea, which will boost growth, enhance investment and create jobs.
“In contrast to the Government’s positive agenda, the biggest risk to job creation in Australia is Labor – they are committed to bringing back the job-destroying carbon tax and continue to block essential Budget repair measures in the Senate,” Mr Pyne said.
“Only the Coalition Government has a strong and effective plan to create job opportunities. The 2015 Budget continues our efforts to build a stronger economy, focused on delivering jobs, growth and opportunity.”