South Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 5.9 per cent

South Australia’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.9 per cent, the highest it has been in eight months.

• Nation’s jobless rate falls to lowest point in eight years
• NOVEMBER: jobless rate falls to 5.4 per cent
• OCTOBER: jobless rate at 5.5 per cent

South Australia’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.9 per cent, the highest it has been in eight months.

Almost 53,000 people, an increase of 5500, across the state found themselves without a job in December, according to seasonally adjusted figures.

The state’s unemployment rate increased from 5.3 per cent in November to 5.9 per cent in December, seasonally adjusted figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

It is the highest rate it has been since April 2018.

South Australia and Tasmania have the same unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent, the third highest rate in the nation behind Queensland (6.1 per cent) and Western Australia (6.3 per cent).

An extra 5500 people across SA found themselves looking for a job in December. Picture: Generic

The national jobless rate was five per cent, down from 5.1 per cent, with more than 21,600 jobs added across the country.

ABS chief economist Bruce Hockman said: “The trend unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points through 2018, and is now sitting at its lowest level since May 2011.”

Master Builders Association of SA chief executive Ian Markos said the figures were no cause for alarm, but were a reminder not to be complacent.

“South Australia has recorded the highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increase in the nation,” Mr Markos said.

“The housing market remains soft, 14 months of declining building approvals demands immediate reforms to protect jobs across the industry.

“We urge the Marshall Government to adopt our five-point plan to improve affordability.”