Regional Victoria’s job surge continues with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirming more than 31,000 jobs were created across the State over the year to August 2017.

At the same time, unemployment fell across regional Victoria, with the current rate at 4.9 per cent. This compares with a rate of 6.6 per cent inherited from the Coalition Government in November 2014.

Victoria’s regional employment grew by 4.5 per cent over the year to the August quarter, the highest growth rate in the nation and well above the national average of 1.9 per cent – with 6,000 new jobs created in the past three months alone.

A total of 62,500 jobs have now been created in regional Victoria since the Andrews Labor Government took office – almost two-thirds of them full time – and 11 times the amount of jobs created under the previous government.

Unemployment in the Ballarat, Geelong, Hume, Shepparton, Latrobe-Gippsland and Warrnambool and South West regions all fell over the year to August.

The news follows Victoria’s Annual Financial Report being tabled in Parliament this morning, which shows the State had employment growth of 3.7 per cent in 2016-17 – the highest jobs growth of all the states and a growth rate not experienced in more than 25 years.

More than 270,000 jobs have been created in Victoria since November 2014.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas

“We promised we’d get Victoria back to work, and that’s exactly what we’ve done – with jobs growth right across the state and showing no sign of slowing down.”

“As we cut payroll tax and provide record boosts to investment in our regions, we’re helping grow local economies and with it create jobs and opportunity.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford

“Backed by our record investments – whether it’s building new schools or making sure our roads are up to scratch or investments in public transport – we’re delivering on the priorities that regional Victoria needs to thrive.”