Gunnedah shire 'crying out' for skilled workers despite low unemployment rate

Cr Jamie Chaffey said Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures in September 2016 showed Gunnedah had an unemployment rate of just over eight per cent.

In the past five years, that figure has dropped dramatically, and while that trend has been seen nation-wide due to a lower participation rate (less people looking for work) during the pandemic, Cr Chaffey said significant economic development has helped.

"Now that rate has reduced and maintained a lower figure right through this pandemic of just over five per cent, lower than the regional NSW average, state and national rates," he said.

"We have seen significant new investment in the Gunnedah shire and as a council I believe we have reconnected with our business community through our economic development focus."

Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce president Juliana McArthur said while the shire's low unemployment rate came as no surprise, the community was currently being crippled by a huge demand for skilled labour.

"Agriculture and mining are the two biggest industries, but there is a demand for apprentices too because we have a lot of manufacturers here as well," she said.

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She said the region is "crying out for employees" due to prolonged government COVID-19 restrictions.

"There's a whole spectrum of issues here, as well with a housing shortage and lack of doctors," she said.

"There's some good news in our employment numbers, but for sustainable growth we've got to address those two areas, and the skills shortage.

"It comes to bringing people in, housing them, and looking after them. For the longer term, we've got those other structural issues to address as well."

The latest ABS figures showed that during the month of September, the New England North West recorded its fourth consecutive month of job losses, with 500 jobs lost since the Greater Sydney restrictions commenced.

Business NSW Regional Manager Joe Townsend said while the region has lost 5,900 jobs since the pandemic commenced, the data shows an unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent, the same as pre-pandemic.

He said this was due to a number of factors, including staff being stood down or working reduced hours, but eligible for the Federal Governments COVID Disaster Payment and remaining connected to their employer.

"It won't be until November 1, when vaccinated holidaymakers from Sydney can undertake regional travel, will we start to see the billion-dollar visitor economy start to rebound," he said.

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