JOBS BOOM FOR WOMEN IN REGIONAL NSW

Women in regional NSW are securing jobs at record rates according to new data from the Department of Industry that shows 37,000 women secured work in the year to July 2016 (12 month moving average), compared to an average of 9,500 a year over recent years.

Minister for Skills, Regional Development and Small Business John Barilaro said the results also show employment participation rates for women in regional NSW in July 2016 reached 55.4 per cent, well above the long run average of 52.1 per cent.

“This is fantastic news for women in regional NSW and it demonstrates that the growth we’re seeing in regional economies is also driving more access to paid work for women - a factor vital to economic and social independence,” Mr Barilaro said.

Jobs growth in regional NSW was more than three times the result in regional Victoria, while the number of regional jobs fell in Queensland and Western Australia.

Women have taken up greater percentages of jobs in the healthcare, social assistance, education and training sectors.

“While the data tells a positive story in terms of paid work opportunities, there is still a hill to climb in terms of addressing some of the barriers to opportunity for women in the workplace, particularly in non-traditional trades,” Mr Barilaro said.

“The NSW Government is working hard to increase the number of women in well-paid jobs that have traditionally been performed by men.

“So far over 17,200 women have taken up our Fee Free Scholarships for Government-funded vocational education and training.

“These scholarships are designed to ensure that even the most disadvantaged in our community, including young people in social housing, out-of-home care and survivors of domestic violence and their dependents have access to training which leads to jobs.”