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SA unemployment rate climbs again, but participation up

South Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose by 0.2 per cent in March to 5.9 per cent compared with a national average 5 per cent, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force figures released today.

Apr 18, 2019, updated Apr 18, 2019
Photo: AAP/Julian Smith

Photo: AAP/Julian Smith

But the state’s trend jobs figures remained steady at the equivalent figure of 5.9 per cent.

South Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is markedly higher than the 4.3 per cent of New South Wales and 4.6 per cent of Victoria, but lower than that of Queesland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The state’s participation rate also climbed by 0.7 per cent to 63.2 per cent, compared with a national average 65.6 per cent.

The national trend unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 per cent for the fifth consecutive month with another 21,000 jobs recorded: 18,000 full-time jobs and 3000 part-time. 

However, a further 3000 jobs were lost in March, with the number of unemployed climbing to 675,700.

Over the past year, trend figures show just under 300,000 people found jobs, which was above the average annual 2.0 per cent growth rate recorded over the past 20 years. 

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said the latest jobs figures showed encouraging signs of employment growth, with a record 848,300 South Australians employed in trend terms.

While the seasonally adjusted rate rose, nearly 15,000 more people were working in mostly full-time jobs than a year ago.

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“We are seeing consistent levels of confidence and growth in the South Australian economy as businesses respond to the changes in policy since the election of the Marshall Liberal Government,” he said.

“Matching skills to industry-demand is an important part of our plan to create more than 20,800 apprenticeships and traineeships over four years to drive employment growth.”

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