Category Archives: Labour market

After Jobs Growth Summit, business groups need to lobby hard for better policies

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Gene Tunny

At today’s Queensland Jobs Growth Summit at Parliament House in Brisbane, I did my best to argue for good economic policy. After Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s speech, I asked her whether the Government would consider fast-tracking the review of taxi … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Guest post from Joe Branigan: A quick refresher course in how to create jobs

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I am delighted to publish this guest post from my friend and former Treasury colleague Joe Branigan, who is also attending today’s Jobs Growth Summit at Parliament House, Brisbane (see my previous post Jobs Growth Summit a great opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tuesday’s Jobs Growth Summit a great opportunity to push for better economic policies

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Gene Tunny

On Tuesday, I will be attending the Queensland Jobs Growth Summit at Parliament House, which is being hosted by UQ’s School of Economics (my occasional employer) and the Australia Institute. My business Adept Economics is one of several Summit sponsors. … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Robust SEQ economy distracts us from weakness in regions, particularly in Townsville

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Townsville-based economist Colin Dwyer is getting very worried about his region’s economy, noting in an email to his mailing list today that: “Economic conditions have deteriorated in North Australia’s largest city.  The unemployment rate is the worst it’s been for … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Qld unemployment rate appears stuck around 6%, while national rate falls

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s under-performing economy was illustrated by March labour force data released by the ABS today. The State’s unemployment rate appears stuck around 6%, while the national unemployment rate continues its steady decline, with the seasonally adjusted national rate falling from … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Qld Jobs Growth Summit timely, but needs to be more than a talkfest

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s under-performing economy was illustrated by job vacancies data for February released by the ABS today (see chart above). While vacancies have grown strongly over the last twelve months nationwide, especially in NSW and Victoria, they have remained flat in … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Why economics matters” is the theme of ESA Qld Presidency of Prof. Flavio Menezes

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Gene Tunny

With an upcoming federal election that will feature a contest over tax policy, including negative gearing and whatever proposals the Government announces, Australians should brace themselves for an onslaught of economic arguments. The Government will argue the Opposition’s policy will … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Social policy, Tax, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Comment in Courier-Mail on volatile Qld jobs data

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Gene Tunny

With the huge volatility in State unemployment rate estimates, demonstrated by the ABS seasonally adjusted estimate of Queensland’s unemployment rate falling from 6.4% in January to 5.6% in February, and the SA rate increasing from 6.8% to 7.7%, the ABS … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Regional rescue packages have a poor record

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Sunday Mail reported this morning that Queensland Federal Government MPs are “at odds over federal relief funding for Queensland” in response to the economic downturn in much of the State outside SEQ (e.g. note the large job losses in … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Mackay, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Qld economy patchy – SEQ appears fine, but much of rest of Qld struggling

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I had a nice chat with Ben Davis on his 4BC Live program yesterday afternoon about the state of Queensland’s economy, a discussion which was inspired by the flurry of press releases that came from the State Government in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments