UNEMPLOYMENT levels in the Riverina are continuing to fall, bucking the trend of neighbouring regions, but young people are still having difficulties finding a job.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Riverina unemployment rate fell to 4.1 per cent in December 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, down from 7 per cent recorded 12 months ago.
However, the youth unemployment rate from November is almost three times higher, at 11.7 per cent, and remained relatively static throughout last year.
The problem is being keenly felt in the region's outlying towns, according to one jobseeker who travelled to Wagga to visit Centrelink as part of his search for employment on Monday.
Tyson Dutton, 18, is moving to Wagga simply because he feels there are no employment opportunities in his hometown of Lake Cargelligo.
"I live in Lake (Cargelligo), not many jobs out that way," he said.
"I've filled in for a TAFE course (in) automotive."
Labor state election candidate Dan Hayes said the continued proliferation of youth unemployment was a big concern.
He raised concerns about the accessibility of TAFE, with course fees on the rise, and an exodus of jobs in recent months following the loss of government contracts by local companies.
"I wouldn't be about blindly supporting policies that see jobs leaving the area like our current member has," Mr Hayes said.
"One of the policies Labor does have is looking at major government contracts having a requirement for apprentices to be employed and long-term unemployed to make up a percentage of that."
Changes in the providers of NSW TrainLink bus services and health warehousing services, previously both serviced by local companies, has left the future of around 20 jobs up in the air in the past month.
However, Wagga is continuing to attract new job openings. When Toys'R'Us opens in the city next month, it will bring with it an extra 60 positions.
Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire acknowledged the youth unemployment figures were "troubling" but said it was an issue being faced in many places around the globe.
"It is troubling and it's been troubling for quite some time, not only here but across the world," he said.
"There are myriad issues, too many to go into in a few short columns ... it is a worldwide problem that is often highlighted."
Mr Maguire said he was working to address the issue by bringing capital works projects to the city to create more job opportunities for young apprentices.
"My role is to try and facilitate different kinds of investment into the city to attract capital works, which in turn creates apprenticeships and, of course, bringing online projects like a hospital will then create further jobs," he said.
The Riverina's unemployment rate compares favourably with many of its neighbouring regions, while youth figures are roughly comparable with much of the rest of the state.
Unemployment in the Murray district is at a sky-high 15.7 per cent, while in the Central West it sits at 7.9 per cent.