Young Queenslanders left behind as unemployment skyrockets

• Youth unemployment rate increased by more than two per cent in February
• 3,500 youth jobs lost last month
• New figures also show the number of people in training rapidly falling by almost 10 per cent

New figures released today show more young Queenslanders are being left without a job and on the training scrapheap under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

Youth unemployment figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Queensland’s youth unemployment rate jumped to 14.8 per cent – up more than two per cent.

Shadow Skills, Training and Employment Minister Jarrod Bleijie said these young Queenslanders were not moving into training.

“Sadly, new figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research released today showing a huge decline in the number of people in training and completing training,” Mr Bleijie said.

“In the last year the number of training completions in Queensland have fallen by 15 per cent.

“The number of Queenslanders in training has fallen by 25,400 in just 12 months.

“The greatest risk young Queenslanders face is job security and getting a start. Sadly, under Annastacia Palaszczuk they are just giving up.

“The LNP has a plan to build a better Queensland where we can deliver the jobs needed and restart our economy.”

Key statistics:

• Youth unemployment rate in Queensland now 14.8 per cent.
• 3,500 youth jobs lost last month.
• There are almost 15,000 fewer young Queenslanders with a job than when Labor was elected.
• The unemployment rate has also increased, despite a dramatic decline in the participation rate.

September quarter figures

• 5,400 fewer Queenslanders in training for Sept 2016 compared with Sept 2015 (8% reduction)
• 200 more Queenslanders commenced training in Sept 2016 compared with Sept 2015 (2% increase)
• 100 fewer Queenslanders completed training in Sept 2016 compared with Sept 2015 (2% decrease)

Annual figures to Sept 2016 (Sept 2014 – Sept 2015 vs Sept 2015 – Sept 2016)

• 25,400 fewer Queenslanders in training over the year to Sept 2016 (9.5% reduction over the year)
• 1,900 fewer commencements in Queensland over the year to Sept 2016 (4.9% reduction over the year)
• 4,100 fewer completions in Queensland over the year to Sept 2016 (14.8% reduction over the year)

Source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research