Far Northern jobless rate rises to 12.4pc
THE unemployment rate in the Far North rose slightly in February, traditionally the worst month of the year for job seekers.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this week show the rate climbing 0.1 per cent higher than January to 12.4 per cent.
Far Northern employment co-ordinator Peter Doutre said the figure was consistent and, while it was still too high, it was not as bad as expected because of the traditional low season.
He said the actual workforce grew by 2000 people to 147,000 and the Federal Government's job provider Job Services Australia had placed 668 people in work last month, not including other employment agencies.
He said March figures were expected to show an improvement.
"We are still in for a tough couple of months," Mr Doutre said.
He said an improvement should follow the arrival of the extra flights from Japan and New Zealand as well as from several domestic ports.
Mr Doutre said there was still $500 million of stimulus projects to start as well as the $1.6 billion indigenous housing scheme and the demand for skilled and unskilled labour in the mining resources sector.
Herron Todd White's Cairns research director Rick Carr said he was surprised at the level of the increase last month.
"I would have expected it go up much more on the basis of normal seasonal factors, so the fact unemployment only went up 0.1 per cent is good for this time of year," he said.
"February for this region is traditionally the worst month for unemployment with the tourist industry at its quietest and last year's school leavers now hitting the job market in earnest."
Advance Cairns chairman Russell Beer said the figure was not too bad given normal seasonal issues.
"The bottom line is that an unemployment rate of 12.4 per cent remains unacceptably high," he said.
"We need to take advantage of the opportunities on our doorstep coming out of Papua New Guinea and support our tourism industry as it works to take advantage of the extra airline seat capacity coming into the region."
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Waiting for better times: Pizza shop owner Jerry Parker says he will have to hire more staff to deal with increased business during the peak tourism season. The Far North's unemployment rate is 12.4 per cent. Picture: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI
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