There was good news for Port Pirie as the unemployment rate dropped by almost half since 2002.
Figures from December last year show that the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent compared with 12.2 percent in 2002.
In the southern Flinders Ranges there was a dramatic change in the amount of indigenous people in the workforce with a drop of 26 percent of people unemployed from 45.6 to 19.4 percent in five years.
Youth unemployment had also dropped from 28.9 to 22.8 percent in the past five years. Both issues are key areas that the Southern Flinders Ranges Development Board has targeted this financial year.
“The general labor market is really good,” said Carly Habils, workforce development officer with the board.
It is a great development for the board which has the role of boosting the local economy.
Mayor Geoff Brock is enthusiastic about the unemployment results, but does not want the city to be complacent.
“We need to continually look at commercial prospects, industrial opportunities and expanding retail outlets for Port Pirie to once again be the number one retail and commercial centre in the Mid North,” he said. In 2002, 6139 people were in the workforce with 739 people unemployed or not in the workforce. In December last year, 6703 people were in the workforce with 461 people unemployed. “That is an extra 600 jobs and nearly 300 more people employed,” Mr Brock said.
He said manufacturing and engineering companies, the Australian Technical College and retail outlets were providing more opportunities for locals.
“There is also plenty of people using Port Pirie as a place to base themselves as they work in the mining industry and in Roxby Downs,” he said.
While the unemployment rate was positive, the average length of unemployment in the region is 37 months, with the average age of job seekers being 37 years old.
Another alarming figure, which the board will look into this financial year, is the number of people receiving a disability pension.
“The number of people in receipt of a disability pension is double that of those in receipt of unemployment,” Mrs Habils said.
“We don’t have answers for why it is that high, but it is on our agenda for the 2008-09 strategic plan.”