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Drought's toll: 100,000 rural jobs
29 Apr 2004
The 2002-2003 drought in Australia cost the agricultural sector a massive fall in jobs, according to Federal Treasury figures. The drought decreased Australia’s GDP by around one percentage point and reduced employment growth in 2002-2003 by about 0.75 of a percentage point.
Almost three-quarters of the decline in agricultural employment – the largest on record – was in beef, sheep and grain.
Treasury noted that the farm sector’s outlook has improved and agricultural employment is expected to recover modestly in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, assuming average seasonal conditions prevail. However, it will remain behind pre-drought levels until the livestock and irrigated agricultural sectors recover.
Stock Journal, 29/4/04.
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