Qld treasurer defends jobs programs

Queensland's Treasurer Curtis Pitt claims his budget will get more people "participating" in the economy.

The budget, handed down on Tuesday, forecasts the unemployment rate to be 6.5 per cent until 2018/19, but Mr Pitt claims it's good because more people will be looking for work.

"What we have is programs which will have more people participating in the economy," the treasurer told ABC Radio.

Mr Pitt believed the participation rate slid significantly under the previous government because many people just stopped looking for work.

"Which meant they weren't on the radar and it meant that the unemployment rate was artificially lowered," he said.

He says his budget's $1.6 billion spend on job programs would find the industries needing workers and train people with the skills to work in them.

Mr Pitt also spruiked the government's $180 million investment in innovation and research industries.

He admitted the Advance Queensland policy wouldn't create jobs immediately, but said it was a long-term plan.

"What this budget is trying to set are the markers, not just for this three years, but for the next three decades, particularly when it comes to Advance Queensland," he added.