Qld unemployment rate leaps to 6.7 per cent – worst in the nation

• 11,500 jobs lost in Queensland in February – the worst in Australia
• 38,500 jobs lost in the last year – the worst in Australia
• Unemployment rate jumps from 6.3 per cent to 6.7 per cent – the worst in Australia

Queensland has the highest unemployment rate in Australia with almost 12,000 jobs disappearing from the state in just one month, according to new labour force figures released today.

Liberal National Party Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said the alarming statistics revealed Queensland was leading the nation for all the wrong reasons.

Queensland now has:

• The highest unemployment rate in Australia
• The most job losses of any state in the last year
• 66,000 fewer full-time jobs than 12 months ago
• The largest number of people giving up looking for work

Mr Emerson said today’s figures were more evidence that Queensland was stagnating with people left behind under a do-nothing Labor Government.

“We should be leading the other states in job creation and job security, but under this Government we are coming dead last,” he said.

“There are 66,000 fewer bread-winner jobs than there were just 12 months ago.

“We are again leading the nation in job losses and in the numbers of people giving up even looking for work.

“Our unemployment rate continues to trend higher – on both available measures. On a seasonally-adjusted basis we are up at 6.7 per cent, which is the worst in the country, and this has only become worse on Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch.

“The Premier claims her Government cares about “jobs, jobs, jobs” but she’s silent on the fact that Queensland jobseekers are losing hope under her government.

“A future LNP Government would strengthen and diversify our economy by focusing on six key drivers; tourism, resources, agriculture, construction and manufacturing, education and services, science and technology.”