SA unemployment rate ticks up
South Australia’s unemployment rate increased to 6.6 per cent in February, with Western Australia the only state to record a decrease.
Photo: AAP/Julian Smith
South Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 6.4 per cent in January to 6.6 per cent, well above the national rate which also increased to hit 5.9 per cent (up from 5.7 per cent).
Queensland now has the unwanted mantle as the state with the highest jobless rate, just a tick above SA with a rate of 6.7 per cent.
However, the more stable trend rate shows South Australia out in front on 6.6 per cent.
The only state to experience a decrease in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was WA (down 0.4 percentage points). The largest increases in the rate were in Queensland (up 0.4 percentage points) and Victoria (up 0.3 percentage points).
Nationally, the total number of people with jobs fell by 6,400 in the month, with the market forecasting a rise of 15,000.
Full-time employment rose by 27,100 jobs, while the number of part-time jobs was down by 33,500.
The participation rate, which refers to the number of people either employed or actively looking for work, was flat at 64.6 per cent.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
– with AAP
