Melbourne’s west has bucked the trend and recorded a drop of almost 3 per cent in youth unemployment.
Australia Bureau of Statistics figures show unemployment rates in the region, which includes the Brimbank, Melton, Wyndham, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay council areas, dropped from a 12-month average of 16.4 per cent in July 2013 to 13.5 per cent this July.
The Brotherhood of St Lawrence analysed the ABS’s Victorian figures for ages 15-24 and found there had been a rise in jobless youth numbers in most regions of Victoria.
The organisation found the average unemployment rate in the age range in the year to July was 13.8 per cent, up from
12.3 per cent a year earlier.
Brotherhood executive director Tony Nicholson said there was less opportunity for young people to walk into jobs.
“It reflects the changing nature of the economy,” he said.
“There’s been a decline in manufacturing and jobs that require low skills.”
Although the latest statistics suggest the tide is turning in the west, LeadWest chief executive Craig Rowley is not convinced.
He said a 3 per cent shift was significant but added that he struggled to corroborate the ABS figures.
“Some jobs have been created in the Brimbank area, but I don’t know if it’s enough to bring youth unemployment down by almost 3 per cent,” Mr Rowley said.
“We need a much more accurate feed of data from the government and we need to get a real handle on what that data means.
“We also need the ABS to be clearer in unpacking it.”
He said the loss of manufacturing jobs, like those at Toyota, would not be felt for some time and may have a bearing on future statistics.
