Wed, 5 Feb 2014Creating jobs and workforce participation are top priorities for the G20 Task Force on Employment, which will meet for the first time under Australia’s presidency in Sydney this week.

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the forum for its members’ international economic co-operation and decision-making, and comprises 19 countries plus the European Union.

Following this first meeting, each member country will begin work on developing its own specific employment plan, which will set out practical actions so all those who can work have the opportunity to and those who are unable to work are adequately supported.

Australian minister for employment, senator Eric Abetz, said the first round of meetings between officials from participating G20 countries sets the scene for Australia and its counterparts to deliver strong results on the employment agenda ahead of the Brisbane Summit in September.

“Promoting stronger employment outcomes is one of the key priorities for the G20,” Abetz said.

“The Task Force will be discussing challenges and strategies for boosting workforce participation and creating jobs at a local level,” he added.