Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, Shadow Minister for Jobs, Workplace Relations and Safety, 25 June 2024
Low participation stalling Tasmania’s economy, education the key
Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
The Liberal Lambie Minority Government has finally admitted the education system is failing our students and commissioned an independent review. It is critical the review includes getting to the bottom of Tasmania’s participation crisis.
Youth unemployment is high, workforce participation is low, and there remain huge skill shortages across the Tasmanian economy. The participation rate for men has fallen by 2 percentage points since March 2014.
Tasmania’s workforce participation rate of 61% is the lowest in the country. If Tasmania’s participation rate was at the national average, over 11,000 jobs would be created, households would be $1,500 better off and the State’s economy would be boosted by over $3.7 billion annually.
We need to provide better connection between our education system and business, ensure young Tasmanians have clear pathways into the jobs and careers they want to pursue, and improve communication with students and parents about the opportunities available right here in Tasmania.
Lifting workforce participation and ending the brain drain should be a key focus of the education review.
Media release – TCCI, 13 June 2024
Tasmania’s participation rate lagging
The TCCI is the voice of business in Tasmania and is calling on the Government to do more to help boost participation.
TCCI CEO, Michael Bailey, said the latest participation figures from the ABS show that Tasmania has the worst participation rate in the country.
Tasmania’s participation rate in May this year was 61.3 per cent, while the national average was 66.7 per cent. Tasmania’s participation rate has dropped by 1.1 percentage points over the past 12 months, which is very concerning.
“If our participation rate was at the national average, over a ten-year period over 11,000 jobs would be created, households would be $1,500 better off and the State’s economy would be boosted by $3.7 billion,” Mr Bailey said.
“The TCCI is calling on the Tasmanian Government to make boosting participation a core component of its upcoming budget and address barriers like transport, literacy, skills and childcare.
“There are no silver bullets or easy solutions to this. It’s a long-term issue, but the best place to start is with a clear plan and the resources needed to tackle the issue and make it a priority.”
Mr Bailey said the TCCI has established a participation taskforce, which has brought together a range of key stakeholders to discuss ways to tackle the issue.
