Unemployment continues to be an area of concern for Hume, which has the highest unemployment rate in metropolitan Melbourne.
New data from the National Skills Commission shows Hume recorded an unemployment rate of 7.1 per cent for the March quarter, a slight jump from 6.9 per cent in the December quarter.
The Victorian unemployment rate was 3.8 per cent.
Within Hume, unemployment was highest in Meadows Heights (16 per cent), while Campbellfield and Coolaroo’s unemployment rate was 15.6 per cent and Broadmeadows’ was 14.7 per cent.
Hume mayor Naim Kurt attributed the growth in unemployment to the growth in Hume’s population growth.
“The unemployment has been matched with a tripling of employment and labour growth across our entire [local government area],” he said.
“In a cost of living crisis any unemployment increases are a concern and Hume City Council is working hard through a range of economic programs to enable our residents to access local jobs and develop their skills.
“Our initiatives include local jobs for local people, investment attraction funding, business support and multiversity programs to support our businesses to grow and employ locals.
“Unemployment requires action from all levels of government, which is why the Hume Jobs and Skills Taskforce led a summit with the employment minister at parliament to push the case for continued funding of employment programs for our LGA.”
Meanwhile in Whittlesea, unemployment for the March quarter was 4.2 per cent, up from 3.7 per cent in the December quarter.
Thomastown had the highest unemployment rate in Whittlesea, at 9.3 per cent.
