TAMWORTH Business Chamber president Stephanie Cameron has said the recent drop in unemployment figures are skewed towards certain industries, and there are still some local sectors in serious trouble
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Recent labour force statistics show the unemployment rate has decreased to 5.5 per cent across the nation, although it has stayed the same in NSW.
Ms Cameron said it was positive to see the nation continue to heal from the damage done by COVID-19 lockdowns last year, but acknowledged not everybody is enjoying the upward trend.
She revealed the tourism industry is still in a very fragile state, as it is everywhere, and the nationwide stats are being propped up by major infrastructure spends.
"There's a lot of areas in the region that are going really well such as construction and agriculture," she said.
"So while on the balance the unemployment rate is going down it is very different for different industries."
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She said while quick fixes to the troubled sectors, such as dine and discover vouchers, will provide temporary boosts, more permanent solutions are needed.
"The other thing we're putting a lot of hope in is youth unemployment incentives, so strong incentives for traineeships and apprentices for young people."
By getting on top of youth unemployment, the chamber is hoping to see a long-term dip locally in the statistic that sits at 10.6 per cent across Australia.
The federal government's recent budget has promised huge spending on infrastructure, which while increasing debt, could further decrease unemployment.
Employment statistics for the New England region will be released on Thursday, May 27.
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