SYDNEY, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Queensland state government is doubling its cash incentives to regional employers who hire unemployed youths aged from 15 to 24 in the lead up to Christmas.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement on Thursday that the incentive would now be 20,000 Australian dollars (15,000 U.S. dollars) instead of the previous 10,000 Australian dollars (7,600 U.S. dollars) it offered.
"Youth unemployment was unacceptably high in some regions and my Government is redoubling its efforts to address this challenge," Palaszczuk said.
"This is a massive incentive for businesses to hire, especially as school leavers start to look for work after Christmas," she said.
She said the incentive will be available for business who hire people from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, 2017.
Meanwhile, Queensland state treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the 100 million Australian dollars (76.79 million U.S. dollars) "Back to Work" package in the state budget offering 10,000 Australian dollars (7,600 U.S. dollars) to businesses who took on an unemployed worker and 15,000 Australian dollars (11,500 U.S. dollars) when they hired a long-term unemployed worker who has been out of work for 12 months or more.
"Our resolve to drive down regional youth unemployment is unwavering which is why we're offering a specific bonus to regional businesses who hire young people," Pitt said.
"That's why for every 15-24 jobseekers a business hires between December 1 and 28 Feb 2017, my Government will double the existing 10,000 Australian dollars (7,600 U.S. dollars) Back to Work payment," he said.
Queensland state employment minister Grace Grace said the "Back to Work" scheme which has been strategically timed to coincide with the end of the senior school year and the festive season has been a proven success in the past.
"I've seen first-hand the positive difference our "Back to Work" package is delivering for regional jobseekers and employers, and I want to see this continue," she added.
