Key points:
• 6.4 unemployed Tasmanians are competing for every vacant job
• The national average is 3.4 unemployed persons for every job vacancy
• Private sector job vacancies in Tasmania are down 10.7% in 3 months.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal Tasmania is in a jobs crisis, with the worst ratio of job vacancies to out of work people in the nation.

“Under the Liberals out of work Tasmanians are being left to fend for themselves,” Labor member for Bass Ross Hart said.

“In Tasmania there are 6.4 out of work people for every job available. Nationally the figure is just 3.4 people competing for each vacancy.

“When you add the 15,900 Tasmanians out of work to the 29,400 Tasmanians who are underemployed – that is they are seeking more hours – the figures are even worse.

“There are 44,300 Tasmanians either looking for a job or more hours of work competing for just 2,500 available positions.

“It’s time the Turnbull Liberal Government stopped attacking workers and the unemployed and instead focused on creating good, well-paying and secure jobs in Tasmania.

“With wage growth at record lows and jobs few and far between, ordinary Tasmanians are struggling to make ends meet.

“Instead of punishing out of work Tasmanians with fake debt notices and cutting the penalty rates of our lowest paid, the Liberal Government should be investing in our people – through education, training and job-generating investments in infrastructure and high-end industry, including our world renowned Australian Maritime College” Mr Hart said.
ROSS HART MP MEMBER FOR BASS