South Australian unemployment rate falls to 5.6 per cent in March

SOUTH Australia’s jobless rate has fallen to 5.6 per cent — the third-best in the nation and almost on par with the national average.

SOUTH Australia’s jobless rate has fallen to 5.6 per cent — the third-best result among mainland states and almost on par with the national average.

Latest figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate plummeted from 6.2 per cent in February to 5.6 per cent last month, when South Australians went to the polls to elect a new Government.

The national unemployment rate was 5.5 per cent for the third consecutive month in March, just 0.1 per cent better than SA.

Industry and Skills Minister David Pisoni described the latest update as “encouraging” but said the Liberal Government still had “a lot of work to do” to ensure the downward trend continued.

“That’s why the Marshall Government is pushing ahead with its agenda to cut payroll tax for small businesses, deregulate shop trading hours, cut ESL bills for households and businesses, as well as train 20,000 new apprentices over the next four years,” he said.

While SA’s unemployment rate often topped the nation under the previous Government,

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas on Thursday argued the figures proved “Labor left South Australia in strong shape”.

“A jobless figure of 5.6 per cent, less than six months after Holden closed, is a remarkable result,” he said.

“Let’s not forget the Liberals were predicting an unemployment rate above 10 per cent in South Australia.”

The total number of Australians with jobs rose by 4,900 in the month, with full-time positions falling by 19,900, and part-time positions rising by 28,800, seasonally adjusted figures show.

The participation rate was up slightly at 65.6 per cent in March, from 65.5 per cent previously.