Just the job!
IPSWICH'S jobs record just keeps getting better with latest figures showing the city's unemployment rate has dipped below four per cent.
The most recent job numbers confirm Ipswich continues to defy state and national trends.
In June, Ipswich's unemployment rate was 3.7%, compared to 5.3% for the rest of Queensland and 5.1% for Australia all over.
The May rate was 4.6%, well below the State average of 5.5% and the national average of 5.2%.
Mayor Paul Pisasale said the city was "again punching above its weight" and hard work of the last 15 years was now paying off.
"It's blown me away. No-one thought we'd ever get to 3.7%," Cr Pisasale said.
"Job creation is a fundamental part of our planning and these new figures are the result of a city working together and focusing on sustainable development and creating communities."
He said the council would continue to work hard so people moving to the city could also be confident they will
find employment and that "there will a bright future here for their children".
"I do a lot of guest speaking talking about how positive things are for Ipswich," the Mayor said yesterday.
"Today I was guest speaking at St Mary's Primary School. When I told them about the employment figures, even the little grade twos clapped.
"With the current population expanding at 5% per annum we are striving to ensure that there is job growth to service the population growth and these latest figures show we must be getting it right.
"I do work hard and the council works hard. We had a strategic meeting today with all the planners in council to work out how we can improve. We don't sit back and rest on our laurels.
"We've been consistent for a couple of years and every time people ask me about it, I say I'm still not happy with the figures. I'm proactive; I ring and ask people if they have any projects for Ipswich.
"It has always been a priority of mine to attract business and industry to Ipswich because of the jobs created."
Good employment prospects were central to creating successful communities, he said, with strong employment also boosting community well-being.
"It's about time Ipswich started to feel even more proud of itself," Cr Pisasale said.
"We keep upping the ante and the community and council should be very proud of what we're achieving."
