Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs.

Tasmania is facing a crisis of underemployment and underutilization. Too many workers are stuck in part-time or casual roles and unable to secure the hours they need to make ends meet. It’s harming families and holding back Tasmania’s economic potential.

New ABS figures reveal Tasmanians are working less hours per person than any other state or territory. In the traditionally busy month of December, the average Tasmanian worker did less hours of work than any other state or territory - recording just 32.1 hours of work per week.  

Tasmania’s underemployment rate of 7.7 per cent is by far the worst in the nation, and well below the national average of 6 per cent.

Workers in Queensland and New South Wales are working nearly five hours more each month than Tasmanian workers, highlighting significant disparities in labour market productivity.

It’s not because Tasmanians aren’t willing to work, it’s because the work isn’t available due to a weak labour market, low business confidence and a flatlining economy.

The business community has publicly declared that its confidence in the Liberal minority government has been shattered due to their incompetence and mismanagement, with TCCI CEO Michael Bailey saying that “it will be very difficult to trust this Government again.”

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 flatlining economy.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer