The Australian Bureau of Statistics data for November shows South Australia’s jobless rate at 5.3 per cent (seasonally adjusted) – down from 5.4 per cent the previous month.

Only NSW and Victoria recorded lower unemployment rates than SA.

By contrast, the national rate edged higher, to 5.1 per cent.

South Australia’s participation rate – the proportion of people either in work or looking for a job – dropped by 0.3 percentage points to 62.3 per cent.

The more stable trend rate of unemployment increased from 5.5 per cent to 5.6 per cent.

Industry and Skills Minister David Pisoni said the figures showed a continuing growth in jobs, with total full-time employment rising by 1100 in trend terms to hit 843,700 – the highest on record for the state.

He said the South Australian economy was growing and business confidence was being “restored”.

Nationally, part-time employment drove a 37,000 increase in the number of people with jobs during the month, better than a consensus expectation of 20,000 extra jobs, but today’s data showed overall unemployment increased by 12,500 people to 683,100.

This included a 6400 drop in the number of people in full-time employment.

Overall male unemployment increased by 11,500 persons, and female unemployment increased by 1000.

Meanwhile, the monthly seasonally adjusted underemployment rate increased to 8.5 per cent, while the monthly underutilisation rate increased to 13.6 per cent.

– with AAP