Colac Otway Shire in south west Victoria is experiencing huge growth in employment opportunities.
“Our Shire is really booming at present with growth right across the Shire,” said Mayor Peter Mercer. “In just four years our unemployment has dropped from 10 to 4.1 per cent. The Shire’s economic development initiatives have really started to pay off and have to be responsible for a good percentage of the 1,500 jobs which opened up in the past four years. Our unemployment rate for March 2002 was 4.1 per cent compared to the state average of 6.3. This is a 2 per cent decrease in only a year. Some businesses just can’t get staff and a recent survey of businesses has shown that at least 200 new positions will be created over the next two years.”
The survey revealed there were many positions within the Shire that employers are having difficulty filling. Employment opportunities for the future were evident across a range of sectors including food processing, timber processing, agriculture, hospitality, administration, sales and professional services.
Councillor Mercer said this demand demonstrated the current strength of Colac Otway industry and commerce and the ongoing expectation of business development.
Since the survey a group comprising business, employment agencies and the Shire has met to consider a range of initiatives to attract and retain suitable employees, to meet training and education needs and to promote Colac as a prosperous regional centre with employment and lifestyle opportunities. This group met again in June 2002 to develop detailed strategies to address these issues relating to recruitment and retention.
The Shire is also undertaking various initiatives to attract new staff and enhance the skills of those presently employed in Colac.
Colac Otway Shire offers people unique lifestyle advantages, the serene country environment making it a safe and healthy choice for family upbringing. Access to Melbourne, high quality rural amenity, the Otway landscape and the beach combine to make the Colac Otway Shire one of Victoria’s most livable regions.
For further information contact Julie Holbery, Communications Officer, on (03) 5232 9493.
