Pockets of Hume, including Broadmeadows, continue to be plagued by unemployment, despite a drop in the overall jobless rate in the city and across the state.
Latest small area labour market statistics for the March quarter, compiled by the federal department of employment, reveal the unemployment rate at Broadmeadows is 22.6 per cent, where it has hovered for the past year.
Campbellfield, Coolaroo and Meadow Heights also have high unemployment, with about 20 per cent looking for work.
But the overall jobless rate in Hume is significantly lower, at 9.1 per cent, while in Whittlesea, unemployment is 7 per cent.
The state average is 6 per cent, down from 6.5 per cent in March last year.
Broadmeadows has been hit hard by widespread redundancies, with companies including Ford and Woolworths closing local operations.
The small area labour market statistics reveal more than 1000 people in Broadmeadows are looking for work.
A jobs centre set up at Broadmeadows in a bid to address rising unemployment and help workers affected by manufacturing closures has seen an increase in retrenched workers aged between 40 and 55 seeking help.
Run by the Kangan Institute, the Skills and Jobs Centre is designed as a first point-of-call for workers needing to re-skill, unemployed workers needing support to retrain, and for students wanting to start training.
The centre’s industry engagement consultant, Kerrie-Anne McPhee, said the centre has helped about 450 people through the job search and training process.
“This includes workers in transition and job seekers,” Ms McPhee said
“Anyone wondering what to do next can access the right information [at the centre] to help them make an informed decision about their future.”
Ms McPhee said the centre was able to help job seekers with career planning, retraining and education pathways.
She said the centre had links to local employers, could help to connect people with job opportunities, and it runs workshops to boost employability and confidence.
