Prospects for Bunbury jobseekers are looking up, with the unemployment rate dropping 1.8 per cent over the last 12 months.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released new data for regional Western Australia, with Bunbury's unemployment rate falling from 6.2 per cent in June 2018 to 4.4 per cent in June 2019.
The total number of people out of work in the greater Bunbury region has dropped from 6300 to 4500.
June's figures represent the lowest unemployment rate for Bunbury since August 2017.
According to the report, the national unemployment rate is 5.1 while 6.1 per cent of people in WA are out of work.
Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Seaward said the data was encouraging for employers and jobseekers alike.
"Clearly the numbers support optimism on the job growth number in the region," he said.
"Employment is rising and unemployment is falling, which is the trend that we have been anticipating for a number of years.
"The recent job growth figures for Bunbury are very encouraging."
Mr Seaward said a number of sizeable projects in the South-West region played their part in reducing the unemployment rate.
"It confirms what we have been saying - that job demand has grown on the back of the large infrastructure projects like Albemarle and increased maintenance activity at South32," he said.
"Most employers are cautiously optimistic about hiring new staff and are taking a wait-and-see approach.
"The industrial and fabrication sector have been scrambling to hire staff for over a year and are still suffering from a lack of skilled staff available."
Mr Seaward said he expected further opportunities for Bunbury's jobseekers.
"The unemployment level of 4.4 per cent for the region is quite low, which is a great outcome, but it also comes with a caveat in that the majority of the job creation from projects both in our region and up north is yet to come on-stream," he said.
"Demand for labour will increase significantly in 2020 and has the potential to create acute skilled labour shortages across the state."
Gareth McKnight
Gareth McKnight is Mandurah Mail's editor.
Gareth McKnight is Mandurah Mail's editor.
