Today’s jobs figures show a slight improvement in the unemployment rate, however NSW is still ranked worst in the country, Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird said today.

“While we welcome any improvement in jobs figures, NSW remains dead last behind every other State and Territory,” Mr Baird said.

“It is a relief NSW has not seen further job losses, yet we still have to despair that NSW residents face the poorest job prospects in the country,” he said.

“If the State Labor Government had adopted our plan to cut payroll tax by up to 20 per cent employers would have been able to save jobs across the State.”

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, unemployment in NSW fell 0.3 per cent to 5.6 per cent over the last month, compared to the national average of 5.3 per cent.

“It is good news it looks like the broader national economy is dragging NSW forward slightly, however the fact remains NSW is limping out of recession.”

Today’s ABS figures show South Australia experienced a significant improvement in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, falling from 5.2 to 4.4 per cent.  Victoria is now at the national average and Queensland experienced a greater improvement than NSW.

“For almost the entire period of the last four years NSW has had the highest unemployment rate in the country,” Mr Baird said.

“Any signs of recovery that we are seeing in NSW today are despite the State Labor Government – not because of them.

“Treasurer Eric Roozendaal likes to talk about the ‘green shoots’ he sees appearing, but everyone knows it is his Labor Government that scorched the earth to begin with.”

MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880

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