Tasmania needs to fix its education and employment problems fast or else it risks slipping into a productivity rate 40 per cent behind the rest of the country in 20 years’ time, leading economist Saul Eslake says.
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Mr Eslake’s message is backed by alarming figures contained in the annual Tasmania Report, commissioned on behalf of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and TasCOSS.
He said the report revealed that people living in the Northern regions were on average older, poorer, had less formal education and were less likely to be employed than people living in Hobart; mirroring state and national gaps.
Mr Eslake said statewide workplace participation was lower in each age group compared to the rest of the country, with only more 15 to 19 year olds participating in the workforce than the national average.
Mr Eslake said Tasmania had a higher proportion of people in part-time work that wanted full-time employment or additional hours, and that long-term unemployment figures – those looking for work for more than two years – had risen significantly over the past 18 months.
He said Tasmania had a significantly lower portion of its population with a university degree compared to mainland states, and conversely, a higher amount of 15 to 74 year olds with no education post-year 10 education – 10.4 per cent above the national average.
Mr Eslake said that was not expected to change soon with year 12 retention rates 10.6 per cent below the national average and completion rates 22 per cent lower.