I’ve prepared some maps of regional unemployment rates based on last week’s new regional labour force data from the ABS for February 2014 (see below). The figures I’ve used are taken from Queensland Treasury’s information brief, which presents 12-month moving averages to smooth out the volatility in the data. The Ipswich region has the highest unemployment rate at 8.5% (with the comparable State average at 5.9%). Here’s the Queensland map:
And here’s the SEQ closeup map:
Pete Faulkner and Mark Beath provide good coverage of regional unemployment in FNQ and NQ:
Queensland Economy Watch 
Appalling unemployment rate of 8.5% in major SE Queensland centres – and probably much higher given most youth unemployment is hidden by VET Fee Help schemes. What amazes me is that is not a greater public out-cry at this result ?
Katrina, I agree. I’ve always been disturbed by the general apathy toward youth unemployment and our inability to consider policies that actually might work to reduce it, particularly IR reform.