Released this week, the Federal Government’s Department of Employment data shows that unemployment dropped from 7.3 per cent for the March 2017 quarter to 6.5 per cent for the June 2017 quarter.

In June 2016 there were 1176 unemployed people recorded in the Kempsey LGA compared to 821 unemployed in June 2017.

That said, a number of LGAs recorded a rise in their unemployment rate.

Reporting on the latest figures, the Department noted that unemployment had decreased in the majority of LGAs, with 60 per cent having recorded a fall in their unemployment rate over the year to June 2017.

Council’s Manager of Economic Sustainability, Susannah Smith, said the recent data correlates with the Kempsey Post Bypass Impacts Monitoring Study, conducted between May and June 2017, by transport specialist Dr Bruno Parolin.

“The reduction in unemployment coupled with Dr Parolin’s study demonstrates that the Macleay Valley’s economy is continuing to improve post bypass and is a great place to live, work and invest,” she said.

“Council is focussed on strategies that attract more industry to the region which in the long run benefits the whole community.”

The Department expects to release the September 2017 figures in December.

For a full copy of the report go to: https://docs.employment.gov.au/documents/lga-data-tables-small-area-labourmarkets-september-quarter-2015