G20 economic growth has way to go: Abetz

The G20 nations have a "way to go" before achieving job-rich, strong and sustainable economic growth, Australia's employment minister says.

Senator Eric Abetz opened the G20 labour and employment ministerial meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday.

He said the nations were starting to see results from a wide range of jobs growth measures developed in the past five years.

"But the recovery is patchy - it is not widespread," he told the meeting.

"We have a way to go to achieve job-rich, strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth."

Senator Abetz also said country-specific employment plans, commissioned by G20 leaders at the summit in St Petersburg, Russia, last year, would soon be reviewed.

"The taskforce on employment has been co-ordinating the development of these plans, which provide an opportunity for government to outline their medium-term policy agendas and to help shape the future through new commitments to action," he said.