WA Unemployment rate reflects the need for workers

19th May 2022

The Shadow Treasurer Dr Steve Thomas says that the current plunge in the Western Australian  seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 2.9% reflects a strong economy but also represents a  dramatic shortage of workers. 

“Businesses across the length and breadth of our State are struggling to find workers, and to see the  unemployment rate drop below 3% highlights this significant economic issue” Dr Thomas said. 

“For the Western Australian economy to continue to grow and flourish workers will have to be  found, and the number announced today demonstrates that they are not here now.” 

“This should sound a warning to the Government that they will need to focus on both increasing the  number of workers coming in from interstate and overseas, and on training as many people as  possible locally.” 

“The competition for labour will be tough when the national unemployment rate is under 4%, which  means that every state will be fighting fiercely for all the workers they can get.” 

Dr Thomas said that the numbers released by the ABS today were an indication of the strength of  the economy both in Western Australia and nationally. 

“Like so much economic data this is another double-edged sword – great economic activity but it  highlights a current and future threat in terms of worker shortages that could limit economic growth  into the future.” 

“I see small businesses across the state who have cut back their activities because they can’t find  workers.” 

“A further tightening of the labour market means there is no short-term solution to the staff  shortages, and I want to see the McGowan State Government accept and acknowledge this.” 

“Simply boasting about the low rate of unemployment, which is actually thanks mainly to private  sector investment and activity, not McGowan Government policy, will not be enough.” 

“Of the roughly 1.5 million employed workers in Western Australia, less than 10% of those  Government employees, and the Government numbers are not the cause of the drop because public  servant number change slowly.”# 

“A plan to deal with labour shortages is critical to the state over the next couple of years.” Ends. 

Contact: Dr Steve Thomas 02427 908 717  

# WA had 1,463,000 employed people according to the ABS report. Government workers averaged 119,273 in 2021-22  according to answers in Parliament.