Jordan Doherty
Brimbank continues to have one of Melbourne’s highest jobless rates, despite a four per cent drop in the number of people without jobs, new data reveals.
National Skills Commission data reveals Brimbank’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 per cent in June, 2022, down from 10.6 per cent 12 months prior.
However, the municipality had the third-highest unemployment rate in metropolitan Melbourne behind Hume (8.7 per cent) and Greater Dandenong (8.5 per cent).
The Victorian unemployment rate was 4.3 per cent.
Brimbank mayor Bruce Lancashire said the city’s unemployment rate was an ongoing concern for council.
He said council was trying to find ways to help more people find work.
“Industries such as retail and hospitality have been heavily affected throughout COVID-19, and high numbers of staff in these areas of employment have been struggling over the past few years,” he said.
“We are looking at ways to retrain people to be employable in areas they never would have considered before. We are working with [Victoria University] on these programs.
“One of my focuses as mayor this term is also to improve the tourism industry in Brimbank, many tourists and family members from oversees visit Brimbank and we are looking into what can be improved on and added to tourist attractions. If that goes to plan then this will also introduce more employment opportunities.”
Taylors Hill-based not-for-profit organisation Future Connect has also noticed that the pandemic has had an ongoing impact for job seekers, according to chief executive Deirdre Hardy.
Future Connect helps create opportunities that lead to improving education, training and employment pathways for young people in Brimbank and Melton.
“There is no doubt that the impacts of COVID are still being felt across all area of life – including employment,” Ms Hardy said.
“When looking at Brimbank, the social groups most affected by this 29 and younger, and women aged over 50.”
