Media release – Guy Barnett, Treasurer, 20 March 2025

Tassie retains record low unemployment run

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest Labour Force data shows Tasmania’s unemployment rate remains at 4.0 per cent.

This latest data maintains Tasmania’s three-year period of at or below 4.2 per cent unemployment.

Treasurer, Guy Barnett, said the Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to back jobs, back businesses and back the economy.

“We’ve welcomed a growing range of positive economic data in 2025, and this is continuing,” the Treasurer said.

“This 4.0 per cent unemployment rate, maintained for two months in a row now, is supported by a nation-leading increase in State Final Demand, number one business confidence and record-breaking retail trade.

“Our consumers are confident, our businesses are confident and our economy is growing.”

Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Skills and Training, 20 March 2025

Giving young Tasmanians a voice on jobs and skills

The Tasmanian Government has established a Youth Jobs and Participation Taskforce, aimed at supporting more young Tasmanians into education, training, and employment.

Minister for Skills and Training, Felix Ellis, said the Taskforce will champion and drive delivery on the ambition of the Tasmanian Youth Jobs Strategy.

“Young people are Tasmania’s future, and we want to make a way for young people to take up opportunities and to build life in our state” Minister Ellis said.

“Being a young person now means more choice than ever before, but potentially more confusion. We need to work on new ways to clear the path between school and job opportunities.

“Young Tasmanians have historically had lower participation in work or education than their peers on the mainland – it’s time to turn that around.

“We’re grateful to have three powerhouse young Tasmanians on the Taskforce, ensuring the voices of young people are central to action under the Strategy.

“Ellsie Bird, Aleira Chalker and Reede Adams-Beckett are already achieving amazing things in our community – this new role will expand their impact.

“The Taskforce also includes key partners to empowering young people, such as employers, education and training providers, youth service organisations, and our nation-leading Regional Jobs Hubs.

Through the University of Tasmania’s Paul Ramsay Foundation Fellowship, Professor Shelley Mallet will support the Taskforce to improve youth participation in education, training and work.

The Youth Jobs Strategy is available at www.youthjobsstrategy.tas.gov.au.


Media release – Josh Willie MP, Shadow Treasurer, 20 March 2025

Latest data reaffirms Minority Rockliff Government jobs crisis

A staggering 9,000 full-time Tasmanian jobs have been lost since Premier Jeremy Rockliff started governing in minority, according to new ABS data released today.

Tasmania continues to have the weakest participation rate in the nation, 6.8 percentage points below the national average. Underemployment also remains the worst the country, with 22,500 Tasmanians saying they need more hours at work. Our weak participation and high underemployment highlight the serious structural issues facing Tasmania’s economy.

Despite Saul Eslake, Deloitte Access Economics, the TCCI and CommSec all coming to the same conclusion about Tasmania’s participation problem and structural economic handbrakes, the Liberal minority government have failed to even acknowledge the issue, let alone address it.

According to the TCCI, 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.

If the Liberals had done more to address these issues in the past 11 years, maybe the Premier wouldn’t be trying to sell off Tasmania’s state owned assets to prop up his busted budget today.

Media release – Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 20 March 2025

Time for Government to make participation a priority

The TCCI remains concerned about Tasmania’s participation rate.

TCCI CEO, Michael Bailey, said the latest participation figures from the ABS released today show that Tasmania has the worst participation rate in the country.

Tasmania’s participation rate in January this year was 60.2 per cent, while the national rate was 67 per cent. Tasmania’s participation rate has dropped by 1.4 percentage points since February 2023.

“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 wants to work with the Tasmanian Government to make boosting participation a key focus for 2025 and tackle barriers like transport, literacy, skills and childcare.

“There are no quick fixes. 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.”