Unemployment rises in September quarter
December 23, 2010
The unemployment rate has increased in all local government areas in the Federal electorate of Cowper, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has released the Small Area Labour Market figures for the September quarter. The latest figures reflect the following changes in the unemployment rate.
|
Statistical Local Areas |
June quarter |
September quarter |
Change |
|
Bellingen |
6.9 % |
7.2% |
0.3% |
|
Coffs Harbour (A) |
6.5% |
6.8% |
0.03% |
|
Coffs Harbour (B) |
6.9% |
7.2% |
0.3% |
|
Kempsey |
8.0% |
8.3% |
0.3% |
|
Nambucca |
10% |
10.1% |
0.1% |
|
Clarence (Coast) |
8.1% |
8.4% |
0.3% |
|
Clarence (Grafton) |
6.4% |
6.7% |
0.3% |
Mr Hartsuyker said the figures most likely reflected the challenging times currently being experienced by small business. As the economic driver of regional communities, a strong small business sector is vital to keep the unemployment rate down. “It’s no secret that small businesses on the North Coast have had a challenging year. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market and that is probably why we have seen the unemployment rate rise in the September quarter.
“When assessing unemployment figures the most important analysis is the trend. Whilst these figures reveal an increase in all geographical areas, I will be watching the December quarter figures with interest to see if the unemployment numbers continue to rise.”
Mr Hartsuyker said Gillard Government had added to consumer and small business uncertainty through breaking their election promise on a carbon tax and poor management of key national issues.
“As the government goes from one disaster to another, household budgets are being squeezed and this makes Australians increasingly nervous about the future. In the end that flows through to consumer spending and that has the knock-on effect to small business and jobs.”
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