South Australia’s jobless rate rises to 6.4 per cent in December

South Australia’s unemployment rate is no longer the lowest in the country, but more people are now in full-time jobs than before the pandemic.

SA also has more people in full-time jobs now than before COVID-19. Picture: File

South Australia’s unemployment rate has risen slightly to 6.4 per cent but remains one of the lowest in the country.

The state’s jobless rate increased 0.2 per cent in December after falling to the lowest rate in Australia in November.

SA was the only state where the unemployment rate increased at the end of last year.

Nationally, Australia’s unemployment rate fell slightly from 6.8 per cent to 6.6 per cent.

There were also 8800 more people employed full-time in South Australia in December than the previous month.

SA also has more people in full-time jobs now than before COVID-19, with 10,600 more people than in January 2020, although it had the highest underemployment rate in Australia at 10.4 per cent.

“December’s jobs figures reinforce recent economic reports showing that South Australia has weathered the COVID storm remarkably well to date, with low case numbers, businesses open, and more full time jobs,” Skills Minister David Pisoni said.

But Labor’s treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said the figures “make for grim reading”.

“The fact SA has the worst underemployment rate in Australia reveals there is a

broader problem with South Australians being unable to secure enough work to

make ends meet,” he said.

Master Builders SA boss Will Frogley attributed much of the jobs growth to the construction sector.

The HomeBuilder grant scheme was driving the housing boom, with more than 7640 South Australians applying for grants so far, he said.

“There has been four times the forecast demand for the HomeBuilder scheme and that’s a massive reason why there are now 8153 more South Australians directly employed in building and construction than there were in April last year,” he said.

“The benefits of that building jobs boom are flowing right through South Australia’s economy.

“Building and construction has a significantly higher percentage of its workforce employed full-time than most industries, so that’s another positive.”