NSW the Nation’s Jobs Engine Room

19 May 2016    

NSW created almost all of the full-time jobs added nationally in the last year and continues to boast the lowest unemployment rate of any state, today’s ABS employment figures show.

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian welcomed news that NSW added 83,300 full-time jobs in the last 12 months, accounting for all but 600 of the full-time net jobs created nationally.

“NSW added 124,700 jobs over the past year – easily the strongest result of any state – and more than all other states combined,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Our economy is in the nation’s number one performer thanks to a solid construction sector and buoyant consumer confidence. This is helping to create the strongest employment conditions in the country.”

NSW remains the top jobs market in the country, recording the lowest unemployment rate for the 11th consecutive month. NSW’s unemployment rate has been at or below the national average for 29 consecutive months.

“The unemployment rate in NSW remained at 5.3 per cent despite the increase in the participation rate to 64 per cent, which suggests that the NSW economy is easily absorbing new entrants to the labour force,” Ms Berejiklian said.

NSW is the only state to record an increase in aggregate hours worked over the last year. Hours worked increased by a strong three per cent. All other states recorded declines in hours worked.

More than 305,000 jobs have been created in NSW since the Liberals & Nationals came to office in 2011.