DECEMBER 8, 2017: MACKAY has the fourth highest rate of annual employment growth  and the third highest female workforce participation rate across the country, and that's a clear sign we are out of the doldrums.The figures were revealed on the Australian Government’s new National Cities Performance Framework which tracks the progress and performance of Australia’s 22 largest cities.We have employment growth of 8.3 per cent. The average on the framework is 2.6 per cent. Our female workforce participation rate is the third highest at 65.1 per cent. The average is 59.4 per cent.I’ve talked to a lot of small business owners lately who tell me things are ticking over well and some of them are even finding it difficult to find workers. This is a much better situation to be in than having no jobs available.The National Cities Performance Framework brings together critical data on key issues such as employment, infrastructure, housing and liveability in an easily accessible online dashboard.It ensures all levels of government, industry and the community have access to critical economic, social and trend data to inform cities policy and investment decisions.It's also about encouraging individual cities to improve outcomes. Because if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.Find out more at the the online Dashboard at smart-cities.dashboard.gov.au