SA records highest unemployment rate in the country again, March 2022 figures show

South Australia has again recorded the highest unemployment rate in the country for the third consecutive month.

South Australia has again recorded the highest unemployment rate in the country for the third consecutive month.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday reveals the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had dropped by 0.1 per cent to 4.9 per cent, however, it is still the highest figure recorded across all states.

South Australia also recorded the highest underemployment rate at 7.7 per cent.

This is despite Tasmania recording the highest national unemployment growth in March, up from 3.9 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, a 4.1 per cent unemployment rate was recorded in the Northern Territory, four per cent in Queensland and Victoria and 3.9 per cent in New South Wales.

The March figures are in stark contrast to the figures recorded in December when SA’s unemployment was 3.9 per cent – the second lowest in the country.

The national unemployment rate remained steady at 4 per cent, defying expectations it could drop to a 50-year low.

State Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the latest figures were concerning.

“It’s encouraging that there’s been a slight improvement in the rate but the fact that we’re lagging means that we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.

“The first priority for us will be implementing our election commitments so that we can start reversing this trend,” Mr Mullighan said.

“Our election campaign has included more money for skills and training and, when we list the State Budget, we will articulate where we’re looking at spending that money and how that’s going to benefit the economy,” he said.

“We also have more than $180m of new funding to go into housing, construction and housing initiatives, which will continue to support what is one of the major employers in the South Australian economy.”

Defending the state figures, an opposition spokesman said the headline unemployment rate was 6.8 per cent when the Liberals took government in 2018.

“The former Marshall Government delivered the highest number of South Australians employed in state history and the lowest unemployment rate on average when compared to Labor’s poor record in its previous term – six per cent versus 6.8 per cent,” the spokesman said.

“Peter Malinauskas is lucky to inherit the strongest jobs growth figures ever recorded in SA and is now under immense pressure to continue the Liberal Party’s strong performance.”

Master Builders Association of SA chief executive Will Frogley said Covid close contact rules continued to hurt “productivity”.

“The low unemployment rate doesn’t accurately reflect the situation on the ground,” he said.

“Close contact rules are creating underemployment with thousands of South Australians employed but not at work.

“(While) Master Builders welcomes the Premier’s recent improvements, they need to go further.

“If you don’t have any symptoms and you have a negative test, you should be at work.”

The ABS on Thursday reported about 18,000 more people got jobs nationally in March, missing market expectations, while monthly hours worked fell by 10 million hours.

Economists had expected the unemployment rate to fall to 3.9 per cent, which would have been the lowest since late 1974, and for 30,000 jobs to be added.

The rate is still expected to drop below 4 per cent some time this year.

Full-time employment in March increased by 20,500 to 9,248,600 people nationwide, while those in part-time employment fell by 2,700 to 4,141,300 people. Economists and homeowners will now be closely watching whether these figures will be enough for the Reserve Bank to hike interest rates for the first time in 12 years when it meets on May 3.

MORE TO COME