The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed that the north-west region - which includes Horsham, Ararat, Nhill and Edenhope - has an unemployment rate of 13.8 per cent. 

It is the fourth-highest in the state after Bendigo at 18.3 per cent, Shepparton at 17.5 per cent and Melbourne's west region at 15.5 per cent. 

The state's youth unemployment rate is 11.4 per cent, just above the national rate of 11.2 per cent. 

Wimmera Development Association acting executive director Mark Fletcher said the region's youth unemployment figures are "well-positioned," but the problem needs to be at the forefront of minds to ensure it does not escalate.  

Mr Fletcher said the association was focused on attracting and retaining young people to the region to combat the unemployment problem.

He said it was important for business-owners to support young people when they are at the start of their careers. 

"There's the age old question of how do you get experience when no one supports you?" he said. 

"It's businesses like Coles or the independent stores down the main street who are hiring school leavers or people who are studying, which helps give them their start."

According to figures from Centrelink, Horsham Rural City Council saw 573 people collect the Newstart Allowance in September 2018, which is an unemployment benefit for people 22-years-old and over.

Ararat Rural City had 438 people on Newstart Allowances, while Northern Grampians had 448, Yarriambiack had 248, Hindmarsh had 207, Buloke had 203 and West Wimmera had 114. 

A report published by a national anti-poverty group, Brotherhood of St Laurence showed that there are areas, mostly in regional Victoria, above the state's youth unemployment rate.

Brotherhood of St Laurence's Farah Farouque said it was a concern that young people in regional areas do not have the same proximity to flourishing job centres like their urban peers. 

She said there was no "silver-bullet" solution to the youth unemployment challenge, but a key part involves local employers. 

​“They know where the available opportunities are - not just right now but in the future," she said.

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