Unemployment has fallen from more than 4% down to 2.8% in Bargo and down to 2.9% in Picton, Tahmoor and Buxton.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said in the past 12 months, Wollondilly had experienced the biggest drop in the jobless rate, compared to elsewhere in Hume.

Bargo’s unemployment has fallen from 4.2% (June quarter 2017) to 2.8% (June quarter 2018). The combined unemployment of Picton, Tahmoor and Buxton has fallen from 4.4% (June quarter 2017) to 2.9% (June quarter 2018).

Unemployment at The Oaks and Oakdale has fallen from 2.7% (June 2017) to 1.6% (June 2018). Across the entire Wollondilly LGA, unemployment has fallen from 3.2% to 2.1% in 12 months.

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 said the unemployment rate had also fallen across many other parts of Hume:

Camden 2.2% (June 2017) down to 1.5% (June 2018)

Badgerys Creek 2.9% (June 2017) down to 2.6% (June 2018)

Mount Annan 3.1% (June 2017) down to 2.0% (June 2018)

Douglas Park – Appin 2.1% (June 2017) down to 1.5% (June 2018).

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

In the Hilltops LGA, including Boorowa, the unemployment 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.