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THE youth unemployment rate has fallen in Victoria’s Hume region but it remains one of the state’s highest.
The data released by the Brotherhood of St Laurence showed 15.6 per cent of young people in the region were unemployed last month, a decline of 1.4 per cent on the same time last year.
Hume youth unemployment rate is the fourth highest in the state.
Almost 20 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 are unemployed in Warrnambool and South West, 17.8 per cent in Geelong and 17.2 per cent in North West Melbourne.
Last year the Hume region had the state’s highest youth unemployment rate.
This year it was one of five areas in Victoria where youth unemployment declined.
Premier Denis Napthine said the lower rate was due to a higher number of young people engaging in tertiary study.
“Most young people aged between 16 and 25 quite rightly are in education, university or vocational education training,” Dr Napthine said.
“It is the right place to be.
“When you include those in your figures the unemployment ratio in Victoria for young people is 4.2 per cent, which is well below the national average.”
Sureway Employment and Training Kiewa area manager Cindy Wallace said the unemployment rate had declined because there was more casual and contract-based employment.
“We’ve had quite a focus on youth unemployment in the past year because Hume has been one of the highest in Australia,” she said.
“People are getting more traineeships and apprenticeships.
“It is getting better and we have noticed an increase in positions being filled.”