Employment growth in regional Victoria was more than double the national rate during the past year, with nearly 27,000 new jobs created in regional Victoria.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also shows unemployment in regional Victoria has fallen by 0.4 percentage points to 5.1 per cent – the second lowest regional unemployment rate in the nation.

The ABS also confirmed that nearly half of all the jobs created throughout regional Australia during the past year were created in Victoria.

In the past three months alone, there were nearly 10,000 jobs created in regional Victoria.

Since November 2014, more than 60,000 jobs have been created across regional Victoria, with the unemployment rate dropping from 6.6 per cent to 5.1 per cent.

The Geelong, Hume and Latrobe-Gippsland regions all recorded falls in unemployment during the year, with the Latrobe Gippsland region generating 15,000 jobs.

Since November 2014, employment in Victoria has increased by 247,100 people – the most of all the states – with the majority of those jobs full time.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas

“The Andrews Labor Government’s concerted efforts to create jobs and grow regional economies is gathering momentum and creating opportunities right across Victoria.”

“Our investments in infrastructure, health and education across regional Victoria, as well as our payroll tax cuts, are providing employment for thousands of Victorians and bolstering the confidence of regional businesses to expand their operations.”