Regional NSW has added 90,400 jobs since the 2015 election, with almost 79 per cent of those represented by women.
“We’ve seen a recent surge in female employment in NSW but what we’re seeing today is a lot of this growth is happening in our regions,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.
“Not only is this data a testament to the hardworking women right across our state, it’s a tribute to regional NSW, which managed to create almost twice the number of jobs since the last election than Labor added during its last term in office.”
Female employment has notably led the way in areas like the Greater Illawarra, where women accounted for 11,600 jobs created in 2017 – almost two thirds of all new jobs in the region.
In 2017 the Greater Illawarra also experienced its lowest unemployment rate on record in about 20 years, at 5.6 per cent. The region added 18,300 jobs during the year, a rise of 9.6 per cent and more jobs than the area saw in Labor’s last decade in office.
The Mid North Coast experienced a jobs surge of 8,300 in 2017, an increase of 9.4 per cent, with women accounting for more than 70 per cent of all new jobs.
Jobs have continued to boom in Western Sydney, with 117,400 new positions created since the last election, while the unemployment rate continues at a nine-year low of 5.2 per cent.
“It’s clear that employment is booming right across the state, showing the men and women of NSW have got their sleeves rolled up and are getting on with the job of making this the best state to live, work, run a business and raise a family,” Mr Perrottet said.
Youth employment grew by 2.0 per cent in NSW through the year to December 2017, more than three times the rate of the rest of Australia at 0.6 per cent.