The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ labour force release shows 132,200 fewer Victorians were employed from March to April as the COVID-19 lockdown wreaked havoc on Victorian jobs.
More than 117,000 of Victorians losing employment were reported within greater Melbourne, with the Melbourne’s South-East (down 25,300), North-East (down 22,600) and West (down 17,300) experiencing the largest share of these losses.
The labour force has shrunk in both greater Melbourne and country Victoria. Every region except a minor increase on the South West Coast has seen its labour force shrink.
Of particular concern, 6,100 people in the Latrobe Gippsland region left the workforce as the double whammy of COVID-19 and bushfires destroy its economy.
About 4,000 left the workforce in Shepparton and 5,800 did so in Ballarat. Melbourne is doing worse still with every part of Melbourne suffering job losses and overall experiencing more employment pain relative to the size of its workforce than the country areas.
Women and young people have been particularly hard hit. Across Victoria, 55 per cent of employment loss was borne by women. In Greater Melbourne, 52 per cent of employment loss were women, while in regional Victoria, 78 per cent of employment loss were women. That’s a disturbing 11,700 jobs lost by women in regional Victoria out of the total 15,000 lost.
Today’s data is more evidence that Daniel Andrews’s extended lockdowns are hurting Victorians.
Yesterday, the ANZ Stateometer, showed Victoria had performed worst on the report’s underemployment rate, which has increased the most of any state or territory. In April, the number of Victorians wanting a job or more work jumped to 14.1 per cent from 8.5 per cent in March.
The Andrews Government strict lockdowns which have been the heaviest in the country, has exacerbated job losses across Victoria and must be reviewed immediately.
Comments attributable to Shadow Treasurer, Louise Staley:
“Day-after-day, the evidence mounts that Daniel Andrews’ extended lockdowns are causing worse job losses in Victoria than elsewhere. Today’s ABS data paints a particularly grim picture for women who have borne the brunt of the job losses.
“Victorian households and businesses urgently need a government with a plan to address our economic emergency so we can get Victorians back to work rather than swelling the unemployment queue.”
