SA January unemployment rate drops to 5.7 per cent, no longer highest in the country

South Australia’s unemployment rate has dropped from 6.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent – the improvement partly driven by fewer people seeking work in the state.

• SA unemployment rate highest in the country, at 6.2 per cent
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South Australia has shrugged off the title of having the nation’s highest unemployment rate, as the number of jobless people falls significantly from 6.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent.

After weak jobs growth in the second half of 2019 and several months with the worst unemployment rate in the nation, SA has been overtaken by Queensland, WA and Tasmania.

With a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, SA compares with a national jobless rate of 5.3 per cent across all of Australia.

NSW continues to be the clear employment powerhouse of the nation, with unemployment at just 4.5 per cent in January.

On the more stable trend figures, SA’s unemployment rate is 5.9 per cent.

Queensland is higher, on 6.1 per cent.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of SA workers fell slightly in January, by 900, to 848,100.

The improvement in the official unemployment rate was in part driven by fewer people seeking work in the state.

The current 5.7 per cent unemployment rate in SA compares with 5.6 per cent in March 2018 when Premier Steven Marshall was elected.

Under former premier Jay Weatherill, unemployment peaked at 8.3 per cent in 2015 amid concerns for car and defence industries.

Since the 2018 election, the highest unemployment rate SA has recorded was 7.3 per cent in August last year.

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni welcomed the drop in unemployment.

“Our massive investment in skills training is delivering results for jobs, careers, and paid training opportunities as we repair the state’s training system and boost the capacity of the South Australian workforce,” Mr Pisoni said.

“In addition to our strong investments in skills training, the Marshall Liberal Government is also undertaking a massive $12.9 billion infrastructure program over the next four years.”

Nationally, there was an increase of 46,200 people in full-time employment and a decrease of 32,700 people in part-time jobs – a net boost of 13,500.

In the 12 month period to January, full-time jobs rose by 143,900, while part-time employment increased by 103,500 people.