SA unemployment rate rises to 6.1 per cent, as number of new jobs created fails to meet rise in demand

South Australia’s unemployment rate has risen to 6.1 per cent despite 2000 new jobs having been created in the last month, as an increasing number of people search for work.

South Australia’s unemployment rate has risen to 6.1 per cent despite 2000 new jobs having been created in the last month, as an increasing number of people search for work.

SA’s seasonally-adjusted rate jump in April marks a rise from 5.9 per cent the month before.

It puts SA and WA on level pegging, as Tasmania records the nation’s highest rate at 6.8 per cent.

It also shows the big capitals of Melbourne and Sydney leading the country, with unemployment rates below 5 per cent, as the overall national jobless rate sits at 5.2 per cent.

The less volatile trend unemployment figure for SA is 6 per cent.

That compares with a 5.8 per cent rate that Premier Steven Marshall inherited on winning last year’s election.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports 13,500 more jobs have been created than lost in SA since Mr Marshall’s election, with a record 854,300 people employed in trend terms.

But an increase of 2000 new jobs this month was offset by about the same number of people who started to look for jobs. 54,500 people in SA want a job but can’t find one.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has today raised concern that SA has again recorded the highest unemployment rate on the mainland, a mantle which is shared by WA.

SA’s trend unemployment rate peaked at 7.8 per cent under former premier Jay Weatherill, in 2015.