SA records worst jobless rate in nation again

SA has again recorded the worst unemployment rate in the nation – but there’s some relief as certain employers put on more staff to build new projects.

South Australia has reclaimed its undesirable title of having the highest unemployment rate in the nation, new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal.

The state’s jobless rate has risen to 5.8 per cent, up from 5.7 per cent, according to data released on Thursday.

The number of unemployed South Australians rose by 1500 people, to 53,900 last month.

The next worst unemployment rate has been recorded by Tasmania (5.7 per cent), followed by Queensland and New South Wales, on 5.4 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.

The latest jobless rates are not good news for South Australians.

The nation’s average jobless rate is 5.1 per cent.

Last month, SA shed its unwanted mantle of having the highest unemployment rate in Australia after it dropped to 5.7 per cent from 6.3 per cent.

April marked the third month in a row that the state recorded the worst unemployment rate in Australia.

The State Government says the figures showed the SA economy was continuing to perform strongly, with 6800 jobs created in May, bringing the total number of jobs in the state to a record 871,000.

It also pointed out that a record number of women were in work in SA, with 418,000 employed in the month of May.

“Today’s ABS figures confirm that South Australia has emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever with 60,300 jobs created in the last year,” Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said.

“It is particularly pleasing that the 48,000 workers on Job Keeper at the end of March are still in work and another 22,400 jobs have been created.”

Mr Pisoni said the Marshall Liberal Government had delivered an average unemployment rate of 6.3 per cent since coming into power in March 2018, which was “significantly better than the 7 per cent delivered during the comparable period of the last Labor Government”.

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan slammed the government over the figures.

“We’ve had the best health response to the pandemic led by Nicola Spurrier and Grant Stevens, yet our economic response is clearly the worst in the nation – Steven Marshall must act and do more to support local jobs,” he said.

“The Marshall Liberal Government has been rightly criticised for ongoing delays to job-creating infrastructure projects and its lacklustre COVID stimulus spend.”