UNEMPLOYMENT in Tasmania has fallen to its lowest level since 1979 with less than 10,000 people looking for work.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released today put unemployment in Tasmania for September at 3.9 per cent on a trend basis.

The State’s unemployment rate is below the national rate of 4.2 per cent and below Victoria, NSW and SA.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Damon Thomas said the State Government was to be congratulated on the continued growth in jobs but said the Government had to invest its limited resources into productive capacity and not consumption expenditure to continue the trend.

“The rate of unemployment in the State has never been lower and more people have jobs, this shows the workforce in Tasmania is stretched to capacity.”

“We should encourage 457 Visa holders into the State to bridge the skills gap and increase economic capacity.”

He said it was particularly pleasing that 12,700 more people were in full-time employment in the past twelve months, up 5.5 per cent from last September.

“In September was had a 1300 increase in jobs with 1200 created in full-time positions,” he said.

Premier David Bartlett said the jobless figures were pleasing. “This highlights that Tasmania’s economy is fundamentally strong.”

He said the number of people employed in Tasmania was now 241,000 and along with WA had recorded the highest monthly growth, in percentage terms, of all States.

“Since January 1999, employment in Tasmania has risen by a massive 47,100 or 24.3 per cent.”

It he highest level of full-time employment recorded since the current labour force survey began in February 1978.

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