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QUEENSLAND’S latest employment figures show local businesses are creating more new jobs than most Australian states.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser says Australian Bureau of Statistics data reflects marginal growth, with Queensland and New South Wales the only states to record a rise in employment.
"Queensland saw creation of 1300 full-time jobs, which was largely offset by the loss of 1200 part-time jobs," says Fraser.
Conversely, the Liberal National Party claims the state’s 5.8 per cent unemployment rate is still the highest in the country – where the national average is 5.2 per cent.
LNP shadow treasurer Tim Nicholls claims unemployment has only worsened.
“The ABS labour force data for September 2011 showed the long term trend of unemployment in Queensland was increasing,” says Nicholls.
“This is the fourth month in a row Queensland's trend unemployment rate has risen. The Queensland economy should be booming and experiencing historically low unemployment rates similar to Western Australia.”
At the 2009 state election, the Bligh Government promised to create 100,000 jobs before the end of its four-year term. Fraser says so far 80,100 jobs have been created with 19,900 to go.
"We are moving closer to it day by day," says Fraser.
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