Armadale unemployment rate bucks national trend to drop to lowest since 2014

THE City of Armadale’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.5 per cent during the March 2016 quarter, its lowest since 2014.

Although the local figure was still higher than state (5.9 per cent) and national (6 per cent) unemployment rates, Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones said the City’s focus on attracting investment and new business into the region was paying dividends.

He said it was a positive sign the local economy continued to do well despite Western Australia’s downturn.

Latest figures from the Department of Employment showed unemployment in the City dropped 0.4 per cent in the last quarter while WA’s average increased by the same margin.

“Forrestdale, Armadale and Kelmscott have become major employment locations, creating more jobs so people can live and work locally,” he said.

The Forrestdale Business Park has had 25 new development applications already this year.

“The Crossroads Industrial estate has proved successful with new stages just released and Stockland Harrisdale has opened its doors, bringing more than 300 jobs to the area,” Cr Zelones said.

“Apart from Harrisdale, three more Aldi supermarkets are scheduled to be opened in the City within the next 12 months.

“With more employment hubs being created in our community, people are continuing to choose to live and work in Armadale.”

Construction, health care and social assistance, and education and training remain the City’s largest employment industries, accounting for almost 44 per cent of the local workforce.