Latest ABS figures shows dire situation for employment on Sunshine Coast

Francis Witsenhuysen – Noosa Online News

LATEST data from The Australian Bureau of Statistics show payroll jobs numbers on the Sunshine Coast topple by 1.2 per cent during a single week in early July.

While the region’s figure is one dire representation of the economic impacts of Covid 19, outside of Victoria, the worst recorded job losses were for the Richmond -Tweed region in NSW – tumbling 2 per cent during the same week (July 4-11).

The ABS figures further revealed payroll job losses for the Sunshine Coast region have been steadily dropping since mid-March, with an overall decrease of 6 per cent jobs.

That compares to seven point-one per cent on the Gold Coast.

Since March 17, the ABS reported Queensland had recorded a decrease of 5 per cent in jobs with the accommodation and tourism industry most impacted.

Change in payroll jobs between 14 March and 11 July, by State and Territory according to The Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Data further revealed there has been a decrease of 5.6 per cent in jobs recorded nationally and total payroll jobs decreased by 1.1 per cent across the country between mid-June and mid-July.

As level 4 coronavirus restrictions grips Melbourne, it’s no surprise the loss of payroll jobs is greatest in the Garden State.

In Victoria, payroll jobs decreased by 2.2 per cent between mid-June and mid-July as additional COVID-19 restrictions were progressively introduced, with an overall job loss of 7.3 per cent since mid-March in the state.

Head of ABS Labour Statistics Bjorn Jarvis said nationally, payroll jobs are 5.6 per cent below mid-March, when Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case.

Payroll job losses in other states and territories since mid-March were: The NT dropped by 3.7 per cent, WA 3.1 per cent, SA 5.5 per cent, TAS 6.8 per cent, NSW 5.3 per cent, and the ACT 6.4 per cent.

“The latest data shows that around 35 per cent of lost payroll jobs had been regained by mid-July,” Mr Jarvis said.

“Arts and recreation services showed more recovery than any other industry from mid-June to mid-July (7.5 per cent), however it continues to be one of the most impacted industries during the COVID-19 period (16.3 per cent decrease since mid-March).”