WA's youth unemployment rate drops significantly

8/6/00
Western Australia recorded the lowest youth unemployment rate of all the States during May, with a decrease of almost five per cent on April's figures.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics labour market results showed youth unemployment fell to 17.5 per cent in the State last month, down from 22.1 per cent.
Employment and Training Minister Mike Board said unemployment also decreased during May from seven per cent to 6.3 per cent, the second lowest of all the States and below the national level of 6.7 per cent.
"While these are very positive figures, of greater note is the annual comparisons which show Western Australia has a strong stable labour market, with an additional 26,000 jobs created in the past year," Mr Board said.
"This time last year, WA's unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent and youth unemployment was at 21.6 per cent.
"The number of teenagers unemployed during May decreased to 6,000 from 7,900 in April and 7,600 a year ago."
Mr Board said the State Government was working to maintain and develop an environment of confidence in the labour market in WA through responsible fiscal management and employment initiatives.
"The Department of Training and Employment has several successful programs operating to boost employment in this State," he said.
"These include Priority Access, a scheme that rewards employers who take on apprentices and trainees by giving them preference in the tendering for State Government projects.
"We now have 675 Priority Access registered employers, all of whom employ one or more apprentice or trainee.
"Other programs include Profit From Experience, launched late last year to help the mature age unemployed re-enter the workforce.
"In the past seven months, this scheme has seen 5,000 people given advice and counselling, 3,000 have received training and 900 people in the program have gained employment."
Media contact: Tamatha Smith, 9222 9211