Hunter unemployment rate falls

Unemployment in the Hunter continues to be well below the NSW average, dropping a further half a per cent in December to 5.3 per cent.

The new figures confirm the strength of the Hunter’s economy and its recovery from the Global Financial Crisis.

Hunter Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer Peter Shinnick said the drop showed the Hunter had “well and truly avoided the worst of the global recession”.

“We are emerging a stronger economy,” Mr Shinnick said.