Hume takes lead on post-COVID employment recovery
Published on 12 October 2021
Last night Council reaffirmed its commitment to the Hume Business Employment Grants Program that will provide incentives for local businesses to offer secure employment and training for up to 100 eligible residents across Hume City.
Since March 2020, COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on the lives of Hume City residents and businesses.
Hume City’s unemployment rate is currently sitting at 12.1%*, that is, approximately 13,790 Hume residents who are unemployed and more than the rate of Greater Melbourne at 6.6%.
Offered as part of Council’s COVID-19 Recovery and Reactivation Plan, the program will provide a strong financial boost for local jobs and local businesses, with a key focus on employment outcomes of twelve months or more at completion of the program.
The program is designed to benefit trainees and apprentices, interns, cadets and jobseekers across Hume City.
Funding has been strategically allocated to develop a project framework that both stimulates the job market and flushes out hidden employment and training opportunities for Hume residents.
With varying participation streams, the program also provides an opportunity for Council to work with businesses to develop tailored approaches to training for their recruitment needs.
Learn more about the program, participation streams and who can apply at Hume Business Employment Grants before submissions open on Friday 5 November 2021.
Hume City Council Mayor, Councillor Joseph Haweil said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit our local economy particularly hard and government statistics released for the June Quarter 2021 show Hume City’s unemployment rate at double the rate of Greater Melbourne.”
“We want businesses in Hume City to thrive and create local jobs for local people - indeed we have even enshrined this in our Council plan.”
"This employment program is not just about jobs, but creating meaningful careers. We don’t want to see jobs lost. At Hume City Council, we’re doing what we can at a local level to ensure business owners are able to continue pursuing their passion by providing goods and services that meet the needs of our community.
At the same time, we are supporting local residents into meaningful employment.”
*Latest data available recorded in June 2021.