South Australia’s unemployment rate flatlined in August, despite a marginal drop in the national jobless figure.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today shows the national rate fell slightly (seasonally adjusted) from 6.3 per cent to 6.2 in August.
South Australia’s unemployment rate remains the worst in the country at 7.9 per cent – unchanged from the previous month.
The more stable trend rate increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.1.
State employment minister Gail Gago said there were “some positive signs” in the figures.
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“I take some comfort from today’s figures, but there is still much work to do,” she said.
“Overall employment has been increasing for eight consecutive months, which is welcome.
“The State Government is focussing on the implementation of the 10 economic priorities to assist South Australia’s transition from the old economy to the new economy.”
Shadow employment minister David Pisoni said the figures showed SA’s jobs situation was “at its worse point since the aftermath of the State Bank collapse”.
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“There are now more people unemployed than any time since August 1995 and South Australia’s trend unemployment figure is at its highest level since April 1995,” he said.
“The 71,000 people now unemployed in South Australia has driven trend unemployment to 8.1 per cent, two full percentage points above the national unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent.”
Treasurer Joe Hockey warned today that employment data could be volatile in coming months.
The decline in the unemployment rate from 6.3 per cent was expected by economists but the number of people joining the workforce was stronger than forecast at 17,400.
Before the figures were released on Thursday Hockey warned of some volatility in unemployment numbers because of increased workforce participation after a change to the government’s jobs services program affecting about 40,000 Australians.
– more to come
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