Queensland’s job creation rate was the highest of any State in Australia for February according to new pre-Coronavirus figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS data showed 6,700 jobs were created in Queensland during February, taking the total to 248,700 created since 2015.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Jackie Trad said the State now faced a long and difficult journey.
“We can take some comfort in knowing we are starting from a position of relative strength, but that does not diminish the challenge before us,” Ms Trad said.
“Today’s jobs data underscores why it’s so important that we have a clear, concerted response from all levels of Government.”
She said that for every job the Government had directly created, the private sector had added six.
Chief Economist at the ABS, Bruce Hockman said Australia’s trend unemployment rate remained steady at 5.1 per cent in February for a third consecutive month.
“There was no notable impact resulting from the recent bushfires or COVID-19,” Mr Hockman said.
“However, the February reference period was in the first half of the month and pre-dated the notable increases in confirmed cases in Australia of COVID-19.”
He said the monthly trend unemployment rate increased in Victoria and decreased in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania in February, while the unemployment rate remained steady in all other States and Territories.
“Over the year, unemployment rates fell in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT,” Mr Hockman said.
“Unemployment rose in NSW, Victoria, and the Northern Territory.”
