SA jobless rate falls, but still worst in nation
South Australia’s unemployment rate eased in June, but remains the highest in the nation.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today showed South Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 6.9 per cent in May to 6.6 per cent in June.
The state’s participation rate – which measures the proportion of people either employed or actively looking for work – also increased.
While South Australia’s jobless rate remains the highest in the country, just ahead of Queensland on 6.5 per cent, the state had the second highest increase in employment in June, with an extra 4,600 people finding jobs.
Only Western Australia had a larger increase in jobs, with 6,900 people finding employment.
However, the more stable trend rate shows the size of South Australia’s jobs challenge. The state’s rate increased from 6.9 per cent to 7.0 per cent in June – easily the highest in the nation (Queensland had the second highest rate at 6.3 per cent).
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Nationally, the unemployment rate was steady at 5.6 per cent, in line with market expectations.
Full-time employment rose by 62,000 jobs, while the number of part-time jobs fell by 48,000.
The national participation rate increased by 0.1 per cent to 65 per cent.
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South Australian employment minister Kyam Maher was bullish about the figures, saying the state had seen 21 consecutive months of jobs growth, with 17,000 more people employed, including an additional 9,800 in full-time work, over that period.
Opposition employment spokesman Corey Wingard said “there is no fundamental economic reason for South Australia to be the worst performing state in the country for almost three years”.
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