The South West and Peel region ranked tenth highest in Australia for youth unemployment with 21.6 per cent of people aged 15 to 24 years unable to find a job.
The figures were released in the State of the Regions 2018-19 report published by the National Economics/Australian Local Government Association.
The report stated job prospects for students graduating from universities had improved with 72 per cent of people with a bachelor degree finding a job in 2017.
Employment opportunities for young people without qualifications were more uncertain with disengaged youth and inequality seen as major concerns.
According to the report, the unemployment rate in the South West and Peel regions had increased 6 per cent since 2003 making the area one of the most disadvantaged youth employment regions in the country.
It was estimated that the national average for youth unemployment was 16.1 per cent, rising from 13.1 per cent in 2017.
Premier Mark McGowan said he accepted youth unemployment was still high, but there were some positive signs.
Mr McGowan said initiatives the government had undertaken to create more jobs for young people included investing $520 million in job-creating infrastructure across the regions.
“We also know that drug use among young people in the South West is particularly high,” he said.
“That is why we are implementing our meth action plan and investing more than $9 million to fast track 33 more alcohol and drug rehab beds in the South West.”
Mr McGowan also said the growing lithium industry provided enormous opportunity for jobs in the South West with Talison Lithium spending $200 million on expanding its Greenbushes mine.
Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said the state government had been ‘very proactive’ in reducing unemployment in Collie.
“The Local Projects, Local Jobs commitment has seen projects in Collie ensure the work and employment remains in our community,” he said.
“It is important to get to ensure our youths have every opportunity to gain the appropriate skills to get them into the workforce. The Labor government introduced a freeze on TAFE fees which ensures that they cannot be increased during the McGowan term of government.
“The huge increases in TAFE fees in previous years has directly resulted in fewer people being able to gain this type of tertiary education, which is now reflected in the youth unemployment.”
However South West MLC Steve Thomas said the Labor government had perpetuated a fraud on the people of the South West by abandoning their number one promise of job creation and job retention.
“By abandoning the younger generation who seek employment within their local communities, and who wish to remain in their local communities, the true metro focus of this regionally disconnected government is once again exposed,” he said.
In order to help reduce youth unemployment, the federal government invested $750 million to help provide youth with skills to help them gain employment.
Federal member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said Collie was one of the town’s to receive a forum under the program.
“The federal government is supporting young people to gain the skills and work experience they need to get and keep a job through the Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program,” he said.
“Youth Jobs PaTH … is one example of how we are implementing practical measures to help unemployed young people get the essential work experience they need to secure a job.
“I recently hosted a successful Youth Jobs PaTH forum in Collie, which was well-attended by local youth and business owners.
“This program is delivering significant outcomes by getting young people off welfare, into work and ensuring they are positive contributors to the economy and their local community.”
