THE unemployment rate has dropped to 2.9pc in the Limestone Coast as a nationwide job boom rolls on.
Statistics from the latest Small Area Labour Markets publications shows a decrease from 3.4pc to the current 2.9pc in the 12 months to September 2018.
Mount Gambier City Council was the best performing area in the 12 months, with a 1.2pc drop in unemployment from September 2017 to 4.4pc.
Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said the decrease was positive news for the city and provided the community and businesses with great confidence for the future.
She said strong performances across a number of industries could be attributed to the sliding unemployment figures.
“The forestry sector is performing very well at the moment and there may be a flow-on effect to the industries that support forestry,” Ms Martin said.
“They benefit and they can employ more people.
“I believe the agricultural sector is also performing well, with good prices following good seasons of weather.
“Small business, which is the largest employer group in our country, may have benefited from some of the initiatives that have been recently implemented by governments.
“It is very pleasing to hear the City of Mount Gambier has fallen from 5.6pc in September 2017 to 4.4pc in September 2018.”
Wattle Range Council saw a 0.7pc drop from 4.6pc in September 2017 to 3.9pc in September 2018, while Robe, Naracoorte Lucindale and Grant each saw decreases of .5pc in the 12 months.
Overall, Tatiara District Council remains as the area with the lowest unemployment rate, with just 1.7pc of people unemployed.
Barker MP Tony Pasin welcomed the statistics and said the Coalition Government’s jobs and growth focus has seen more than 1.2 million jobs created since 2013.
“The Coalition Government is determined to continue to put in place the right conditions to ensure we have a strong economy and more jobs,” he said.
“Without a strong economy, Australia will not have the capacity to deliver the jobs and opportunities we need.
“I’m pleased to see the benefits are flowing through to our community.
“Our plan for a stronger economy is working, but there is more work to do.”
