Unemployment has fallen across Geelong with some suburbs experiencing the lowest levels in a decade, according to data released last Friday.
The figures come after the Independent last week revealed overall Geelong unemployment hit its lowest level in 11 years last December.
The rate dropped to 4.4 per cent that month, down from 4.9 per cent last November and the lowest since 4.3 per cent in February 2009.
The latest Small Area Labour Markets data revealed several parts of Geelong enjoyed their lowest unemployment figures in decade during July to September 2019.
The quarterly data, released by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, lags three months behind ABS figures, which cover all of Geelong.
Unemployment fell both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year in Belmont (4.9 per cent), Corio-Norlane (18.7 per cent), Geelong (6.9 per cent), Geelong West-Hamlyn Heights (4.5 per cent), Leopold (3.7 per cent), Newcomb-Moolap (11.4 per cent), Newtown (2.6 per cent) North Geelong-Bell Park (7.2 per cent), Grovedale (3.5 per cent) and Highton (2.1 per cent).
Only Lara recorded a marginal increase in unemployment from 4.1 per cent to 4.2 per cent in the year to September 2019.
Locations on the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast recorded similar drops.
The monthly average unemployment in Geelong was 5.6 per cent for 2019, compared to 5.9 per cent in 2018, according to ABS figures.
Geelong Chamber of Commerce CEO Ben Flynn credited the city’s “strong” service and construction industries for the result.
“I reckon it’s terrific news for Geelong,” he said.
“Some of those large building projects in the city – Geelong Arts Centre and the Mercer St residential apartments – there’s no doubt they’ve been a really big driver.”
Geelong’s growing population made the figures even more impressive, Mr Flynn said.
The figures were good for job-seekers and diversity, he said.
“If you’ve got low unemployment, (employers) have to consider all sorts of options to fill any roles that (they) might have.”
New estates in Armstrong Creek and on the Bellarine Peninsula were also contributing to growth in construction jobs, Mr Flynn said.
“I live in Ocean Grove and it’s exploding there and at Portarlington and Clifton Springs.”
Council’s plans for growth areas to the west and north-west of Geelong would further push that growth, he added.
“That’s going to be a real game-changer.”
But Mr Flynn acknowledged retailers faced challenges in central Geelong, such as CBD construction projects and other “disruptions”.
While local retailers had to adapt to the global phenomenon of online shopping, the service and experience that “bricks and mortar” retail provided was still in high demand, he said.
Geelong’s youth unemployment rate dropped from 12.1 in 2018 to 9.8 in 2019, according to ABS figures.
