Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force data for May, released today, show SA’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.7 per cent, down from 6.1 per cent in April.

The state’s trend unemployment figures – considered a more reliable barometer than volatile seasonally adjusted figures – also fell, from 5.9 per cent to 5.8 per cent.

Tasmania has the highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate with 6.4 per cent, followed by Western Australia on 6.3 per cent and Queensland on 6.2 per cent.

New South Wales and Victoria were equal on 4.6 per cent, while the national average is 5.2 per cent.

Another 42,300 people found work in May, in seasonally adjusted terms, but the vast majority were casual; only 2400 new jobs were full-time, compared with 39,800 part-time.

Full-time employment increased by 266,300 since May 2018, while there were another 93,900 part-time jobs.

Youth unemployment now stands at 11.8 per cent – up 0.1 per cent since May 2018.

SA Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said more than 16,000 people had found jobs in South Australia – including 10,000 full-time – since the Marshall Government was elected in March last year.

“What we are seeing is increased numbers of South Australians employed, increased hours worked in the economy, and more South Australians having the confidence to look for work,” he said.

“These are encouraging jobs figures for South Australia, but we know that there is much work to be done to ensure the SA economy continues to grow and even more jobs are created.”

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