Tasmanian jobs are vanishing at an astonishing rate under Jeremy Rockliff’s minority government.

ABS employment data released today shows Tasmania lost another 400 full-time jobs in October, bringing the total number of Tasmanian jobs that have been lost since Premier Jeremy Rockliff started governing in minority to a staggering 6,700.

Total employment is the worst result in two and a half years

Earlier this week NAB’s latest Monthly Business Survey revealed Tasmania’s business confidence is now the second worst in the nation for both confidence and conditions.

The Premier’s minority government has lost the confidence of the business community and bungled the Spirits project to the point of international embarrassment. Recently, the TCCI said that “it will be very difficult to trust this Government again.”

Our participation rate of 60.4% is by far the lowest in the nation and remains almost seven percentage points below the national average.

If Tasmania’s participation rate was at the national average, over 11,000 jobs would be created, households would be $1,500 better off and the State’s economy would be boosted by over $3.7 billion annually. It’s blatantly obvious Tasmania needs to address the struggling participation rate to get our economy back on track.

Working age Tasmanians are leaving our state in search of better opportunities elsewhere. The Government needs to provide better work and study opportunities here in Tasmania and remove barriers to entering the workforce like access to childcare services.

Labor’s priority is making sure Tasmanians can find work in well-paid, safe, and secure jobs because that’s the key to reinvigorating Tasmania's flatling economy.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer