Unemployment has fallen to 3.1% in the Goulburn region and new jobs are opening up.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said in the past nine months Goulburn region’s unemployment had fallen from 3.3% (September quarter 2017) to 3.1% (June quarter 2018).

Across the broader Goulburn Mulwaree LGA, unemployment in the past nine months has dropped from 6.5% to 6.0%.

The combined unemployment of Hill Top and Colo Vale has dropped from 4.0% (June 2017) to 3.7% in 12 months. The jobless rate across the Wingecarribee Shire sits at 3.3%.

Mr Taylor said the right policy settings were in place, with the Australian economy creating on average more than 800 new jobs per day over the past 12 months.

“Full-time employment has increased strongly. Female employment has increased. While the labour force figures can jump around from month to month, the results over the past year continue to reflect a strong labour market.”

Mr Taylor met developer Nick Daoud on site at the construction of new apartment complexes in Clinton Street, where up to 50 builders and tradespeople are being employed every day.

“We expect that number to double to up to 100 people a day. We employ local people wherever we go. The job belongs to the town,” Mr Daoud said.

The apartments are being built on the former Marion College site.

Mr Taylor said there was still more work to be done in parts of Hume where employment opportunities were not as readily available.

In the Hilltops LGA, including Boorowa, the jobless rate has dropped only marginally in the past nine months from 6.8% to 6.7%.

“This area has my attention and I will be working closely with the community on initiatives to bring the jobless rate down,” Mr Taylor said.

Caption: Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor with developer Nick Daoud on the construction site in Clinton Street, where 50 people are being employed to build new apartment blocks.