Queensland continues to outperform the rest of the country in job creation, with the Sunshine Coast leading the way, Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie said today.

Mr Bleijie welcomed the latest ABS Regional Labor Force data, which again shows the Sunshine Coast outperforming other regions in terms of job creation.

“The Newman Government’s strong plan for the economy is delivering a brighter future for Queensland workers,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The Sunshine Coast recorded the largest annual growth in employment of all regions during May 2014 with an increase of 14,900 employed persons,” Mr Bleijie said.

“These results are pleasing and clearly show the Government’s plan to build a four-pillar economy is a strong one, following years of neglect and financial recklessness under Labor.

“Since the election of the Newman Government more than 66,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and more than 69,000 jobs (trend) have been created in Queensland.”

On the Sunshine Coast in May 2014 163,300 persons were employed, representing a 10.1 per cent increase over the year.

The May data shows a slight increase in the Sunshine Coast’s unemployment rate over the year, reflecting growth in the participation rate of 4.8 per cent.

“This shows the strength of the region’s jobs market, with thousands more Sunshine Coast residents now looking for work,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Queensland was responsible for creating four out of every five full-time jobs in Australia in the last month (seasonally adjusted).

“We also remain the best performing state when it comes to job creation over the past twelve months, and I’m delighted the Sunshine Coast is front and centre as Queensland’s jobs capital.

Mr Bleijie said construction of the State Government’s $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital in Kawana would continue to deliver new jobs.

“It will require a workforce in excess of 3,500 when it opens at the end of 2016, increasing to around 6,000 staff when services ramp up by 2021, not to mention the jobs it will create through local development in the surrounding area,” Mr Bleijie said.