Geelong’s council has welcomed plans for a Jobs Expo in the city as lingering affects of the global financial crisis continue taking their toll on the region’s unemployment rate.
The expo will act as a matchmaker between employers and the unemployed in a one-day exhibition of job vacancies and opportunities around the region.
Council economic development portfolio holder Rod Macdonald said the expo would help tackle Geelong’s 6.5 per cent unemployment rate while providing a timely a boost for local industries.
“Incentives like these will go a long way toward improving this situation,” Cr Macdonald said.
Federal parliamentary secretary for employment Jason Clare visited Geelong this week to announce the expo.
Mr Clare encouraged residents to attend.
“Geelong has been hit hard by the global recession – the unemployment rate here is 6.5 per cent, which is above the national average,” he said.
“That’s why on July 8 we’ll be at the Geelong Arena with jobs to fill and people to fill them.
“We’ve held 15 around the country so far and filled around 5900 jobs.”
Member for Corangamite Darren Cheesman said local training providers would also have a role at the event.
“The Jobs Expo will also give locals a chance to find new skills or update existing skills to help them find the right job,” he said.
Mr Cheeseman used the expo launch to welcome the extension of the Government’s Apprentice Kickstart Program.
The program will now run until November with a tripled first-year apprentice bonus of almost $5000.
Mr Cheeseman said the program almost doubled the number of young, traditional trade apprentices recruited between December and February.
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