“Fantastic initiatives like the Youth Jobs PaTH program are making a real difference locally. This program has taken 271 young people in the electorate of Cowper from welfare to the workforce, the best result anywhere in the country.

New labour force data released this week by the ABS has revealed a continued strengthening of Australia’s labour market, with the unemployment rate falling to 5.5 per cent, and seasonally adjusted employment rising 19,800 in September, to a record high of 12,290,200.

Mr Hartsuyker welcomed the figures, saying they showed that more Australians were employed than ever before.

“Over the last year, employment has risen by 371,500 jobs, 315,900 of which were full-time. This represents the greatest full-time jobs growth on record,” he said.

“This is good news for local job-seekers on the Mid North Coast. Through strong economic management the Turnbull-Joyce Government is creating the right environment for businesses to create jobs, and more jobs means more prosperity for the Mid North Coast.”

Mr Hartsuyker said the Government was working hard to bring down youth unemployment.