The state’s headline jobless rate fell 0.2 of a per cent to 7.5 in the latest Bureau of Statistics figures published this morning, but SA remains the poorest-performing labour market in the nation, a full per cent clear of the next worst economy, Tasmania.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.2 per cent in September to 5.9.

But the publication of the October figures coincides with good news on the jobs front, with the Government awarding major construction contracts to two local firms to help construct “Bowden Town Square”, the centrepiece of the Bowden precinct development.

Adelaide-based Landscape Construction Services has won the contract to build Bowden Park, while developer Mossop will “significantly upgrade” a part of the complex earmarked as a retail precinct.

Planning Minister John Rau told InDaily in a statement the contracts were worth around $5 million and would “support more than 200 jobs for South Australians”.

“Mossop expects to employ about 150 people at various times during construction, while Landscape Construction Services expects more than 80 people to work on Bowden Park,” he said.

“Construction will begin within weeks, so that by mid-2016 Bowden’s Park and the first stage of its retail precinct, as well as the upgrade of the Parklands opposite Bowden, will all be complete…this time next year, people will be able to shop, eat and dine in the retail precinct and enjoy a picnic or stroll in Bowden Park.”

Prince Charles joins Planning Minister John Rau at the Bowden precinct this week. Photo: AAP

The “Plant 4” retail precinct will have a ground-floor footprint of around 1900sqm.

On Tuesday, Prince Charles visited the Bowden precinct to turn the sod of The Prince’s Terrace, which will host 12 eco-friendly townhouses and apartments, designed in consultation with the Prince’s Foundation.