●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
NEWS ●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Dole line a tad shorter in region’s workforce tally BY TARA MURRAY AND MATILDA MAROZZI THE Macedon Ranges and Sunbury have a jobless rate that is lower than the state average, new census figures show. The census 2011 data, released last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows 3.6 per cent of Macedon Ranges residents over the age of 15 and 4.4 per cent in Sunbury were unemployed last year compared with the state average of 5.4 per cent. Hume’s jobless rate was 6.8 per cent. In Sunbury, 60.9 per cent of workers had full-time jobs and 29 per cent part-time. The Macedon Ranges had 57 per cent full-time workers and 33 per cent part-time. The data show both Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges were above the state average when it came to the number of people using a car to get to
Grass Trimmers
10 per cent in healthcare and retail. The 2011 population and housing census figures, which were earlier released in June, showed Sunbury’s population increased from 31,002 to 34,030 between 2006 and last year. The Macedon Ranges population rose by 3500 people to 41,860. Macedon Ranges chief executive Peter Johnston said the municipality’s location was part of the reason for the low unemployment. ‘‘Within the shire, we have strong retail, tourism, public service and manufacturing/construction sectors. For those able to commute, there is the option of employment in both Melbourne and Bendigo. ‘‘This is likely to be a significant factor in our low unemployment rate — 55 per cent of our residents leave the shire to Melbourne or Bendigo for work each day.’’ Hume Council chief executive
work. In Sunbury, 73.2 per cent of residents used cars, while the figure in the Macedon Ranges was 68 per cent. The state average was 66.2 per cent. Only 8.3 per cent of Sunbury residents and 7 per cent of Macedon Ranges residents used public transport to get to work, compared with the state average of 11 per cent. Retail, construction and health care and ‘social assistance’ are the biggest industries for Sunbury and Macedon Ranges residents. In Sunbury, 11 per cent worked in retail and 10 per cent in construction and healthcare and social assistance fields. Ten per cent of Sunbury residents also worked in transport, postal and warehousing industries. The most popular jobs were clerical and administrative roles, followed by technicians and trades. In the Macedon Ranges, 11 per cent of residents worked in construction,
Domenic Isola said Hume and surrounding areas had experienced significant changes and challenges, particularly in the manufacturing sector and in the economic climate. Mr Isola said there was good news that unemployment in Sunbury and Craigieburn had fallen. ‘‘These figures can be attributed to many things, including the spreading of jobs across various sectors.’’
He said: ‘‘While the [unemployment] figure [in some other Hume suburbs] is higher than the average, other census data is showing that jobs are spreading out across more sectors than previously, which is good for Hume. ‘‘Based on the census, there were 7252 jobs created in Hume City between 2006 and 2011, or about 1450 per annum. Of these, about 53 per cent were full-time positions.’’
CLEAN UP WITH STIHL
from
High Pressure ure Cleaners ers
Hedge Trimmers
from
Blowers Blower from
$249* *Offer applies to HS 45 (45cm) Hedge Trimmer, BG 56 Blower, RE 108 High Pressure Cleaner and FS 38 Grass Trimmer and ends 31/01/13 or while stocks last
$299*
from
$399*
G5443218AA-a6Nov©FCNVIC
$199*
Gisborne Power Products 42 Barry Road GISBORNE Ph: 5428 8844
specialising in:
G5383493AA-dp25Sep©FCNVIC
flooring furniture decking garden features installation PH: 03 9740 2571
47 O’Shanassy st Sunbury www.bamboofactoryoutlet.com.au G5215427AA-a3Jul©FCNVIC
November 6, 2012 WEEKLY – YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE
[ 11 ]