News
SA youth left behind |
Friday, 11 April 2008
State employment and economic figures released this month indicate South Australia continues to lag behind the nation.
Labour Force data released on 10 April show that SA had the highest trend unemployment rate of all states excluding Tasmania in March 2008.
Shadow Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Steven Griffiths said if South Australia had matched the national employment growth rate since March 2002, an additional 24,100 people would now be employed.
South Australia’s youth unemployment rate of 19.7% remains the highest of all mainland states. The national average in March 08 was 15.5%.
“It is very concerning that 1 in 5 people aged between 15 and 19 can not find a job,” Mr Griffiths said.
“In Western Australia the young unemployment rate is 10.8%, the lowest of all states. The Premier keeps telling us we are on the cusp of a mining boom – so where are all the jobs for young South Australians?
“We need our youth participating in the workforce to ensure skills are retained and SA’s economy is able to grow with the rest of the nation.
“As I have said time and time again, the Rann Government needs to invest more in skills and training to make our young people job ready and to keep them from migrating interstate.
“While the government carries on with statements about our buoyant economy, it is doing very little to take advantage of South Australia’s huge growth potential.
“It is frustrating to see the Rann government reaping in record tax revenue and giving little back to the people of South Australia.”