The number of jobs added in NSW this year has been almost three times higher than the next strongest state and accounts for more than half of all jobs created nationally, official figures confirm. 

The unemployment rate in NSW has declined sharply to be at its lowest level in 18 months, today’s ABS labour force figures show.

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian has welcomed the news that the unemployment rate in NSW fell by 0.3 percentage points to 5.5 per cent.

“It is extremely pleasing that the NSW unemployment rate is the lowest among the states and has been for the last five consecutive months,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The unemployment rate has been at or below the national average for 23 consecutive months in NSW.

In NSW there have been 123,000 jobs created in 2015 so far, almost triple the number created in Victoria.

There were 18,700 jobs created in NSW in October, which accounts for almost a third of the national increase.

“NSW is the nation’s engine room of economic growth and this is helping to boost jobs creation,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This Government has shown its ongoing commitment to encouraging jobs creation and this commitment is reflected in these positive results.”

Since the NSW Liberals & Nationals were elected to Government in 2011, there have been 271,700 jobs created in NSW.