Jobs data shows need for participation solutions, five day kinder

The latest jobs data from the ABS shows a desperate need for solutions to Tasmania’s long-term workforce participation woes such as Labor’s plan for five day kinder and universal access to pre-school for three-year-olds.

Today’s concerning figures show that Tasmania has the:

• Worst participation rate in the nation at 60.4 per cent, a full 6.5 percentage points behind the national average.
• Worst employment to population ratio by far at 57.4 per cent
• Worst underemployment rate at 7 per cent
• Second worst unemployment rate at 4.9 per cent

The figures also reveal that 5,700 Tasmanian jobs have been lost since Jeremy Rockliff formed government in August last year and tasked Eric Abetz with cutting public services to pay for 13 years of Liberal waste.

Of today’s data, the persistently low participation rate is arguably the biggest handbrake to Tasmania’s economy.

One of the strongest pressures families face right now is the cost and availability of childcare, which is keeping Tasmanians, particularly women, from participating in the workforce as much as they’d like.

Labor’s plan for five day kinder is one solution that will ease that pressure by covering out-of-pocket costs for early learning and expanding access across the state.

Universal access to pre-school for three-year-olds will give families more affordable options and free up places in long day care for other children. Critically, it will also help more parents return to work or increase their hours.

That’s how you lift participation, support families with cost-of-living pressures, and grow Tasmania’s economy.

Labor’s plan is good for kids. Good for families. Good for Tasmania.