There are more new jobs across the Wide Bay region than ever before, with new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data revealing over 29,000 extra positions were created across the region in the past two and a half years, including 14,200 extra jobs in 2024 alone.

ABS Labour Force figures released this month have also revealed that since the Albanese Government came to office in 2022, employment in the region has seen an 18 per cent rise in new jobs being created, bringing local employment to around 155,700.

An extra 444,400 jobs were created across Australia in 2024 alone, the second largest rise in a calendar year on record. Of those, 67 percent were full time positions.

This strong job creation has occurred at the same time as we make substantial progress in bringing down inflation.

Our workplace laws, all of which were opposed by Peter Dutton and the LNP, are delivering:

• Higher pay and stronger job security for workers;
• Real wage growth after a decade of deliberate wage suppression under the Coalition, with the average Australian worker now earning an extra $150 a week compared to 2 years ago;
• Real wages growth for four consecutive quarters, a complete turnaround from when we came to Government when annual real wages were falling;
• Increases to minimum and award wages, meaning that the 2.6 million lowest paid workers are better off;
• The lowest gender pay gap level in history;
• Same Job Same Pay laws delivering significant pay rises to labour hire workers;
• New rights for truck drivers to stay safe on our roads;
• New rights for gig economy workers like rideshare and food delivery workers, including unfair dismissal;
• More rights for casual workers;
• The right to say ‘no’ to unpaid overtime, through our Right to Disconnect laws;
• The criminalisation of intentional wage theft.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“These record-breaking jobs figures are a great result for this booming part of our state because these stats represent growing industries, more career opportunities and improved services for locals.

“We know the importance of a secure job when it comes to putting food on the table, as well as providing opportunities for young people to stay and build a life in our regional communities.

“It’s a tribute to workers and employers across the Wide Bay region who have delivered these results, alongside Labor’s responsible economic management and our changes to workplace laws.

“Under the Federal Labor Government, inflation has more than halved, while more Australians have a job, and their wages are going up.

“We know people are still doing it tough, but we also know that locals in the Wide Bay region would be doing it tougher under Peter Dutton.”

ENDS

Media contact: James Laidler – 0458 729 475