NSW: Tough time for job seekers in rural areas: report
02 Dec 2008 10:37 AM
Job seekers are doing it tough in most of regional NSW .. with unemployment rates above the national average and expected to worsen.
The NSW north coast has the state's highest unemployment rate at 8.3 per cent .. almost double the national average of 4.3 according to the ANZ Regional and Rural Quarterly report.
Unemployment's also up in the south-west at around 5 per cent but the north-west is the only area below the national average .. at 4.2 per cent.
The ANZ's MARK HAND says country NSW is in for a tough time next year .. but there's been good rain in some areas .. with winter crops around Orange .. Parkes .. Narromine and Dubbo the best for seven years.
Mr HAND says the outlook for tourism in popular destinations like southern NSW is also likely to improve with recent falls in the Australian dollar and lower petrol prices making domestic travel more attractive.
