SA’s jobless rate edges down with participation rate
South Australia’s unemployment rate edged lower in October, but remains the second-highest in the nation behind Queensland.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.3 per cent in September to 6.2 last month, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today. This followed a steep drop from a three-year high of 7.3 per cent in August.
The steadier trend rate was unchanged in October, also at 6.3 per cent.
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted rate ticked up slightly, from 5.2 to 5.3.
South Australia also experienced a drop in the participation rate – the proportion of working-age people either in work or actively looking for a job.
The state’s participation rate fell by 0.5 points – with Queensland, the equal largest drop of any state – to 62.7 per cent.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni welcomed the drop in unemployment.
“The decrease in the headline unemployment rate is welcomed, but we know there is much more work to be done, and that is why the Marshall Liberal Government is focused on growing and diversifying the South Australian economy and driving positive jobs growth,” he said in a statement.
“In particular, we’re very focused on driving full-time job creation, with almost two-thirds of the jobs created since the election of the Marshall Liberal Government being full time.
Shadow Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the latest figures revealed “not one additional job has been created in the past year”.
