Thousands still out of work in NT as full-time jobs fail to return in COVID-19 recovery
The Northern Territory’s unemployment rate has dipped below 5 per cent, but not all is rosy
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THE Northern Territory’s unemployment rate has dipped below 5 per cent as 400 more Territorians found work in February but not all is rosy.
Labour force data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday shows the number of Territorians in work is still 2100 less than February 2020 levels, right before coronavirus hit.
The number of people in full-time work also dipped in February, with 5100 less Territorians in full-time work as compared to February 2020.
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NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said weekly payroll jobs data released this week also pointed to new jobs being in the public service, with private sector jobs dipping.
“It’s good news mixed in with some caution,” he said.
“With JobKeeper coming to a close at the end of March we expect to see shrinkage in (private sector jobs).”
Growth sectors in the NT include public administration and safety, education, and health care, which are three of the Territory’s largest employers anyway.
NT’s unemployment rate in February was 4.9 per cent, down from 5.6 per cent in January.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg acknowledged the road after the JobKeeper wage subsidy – which ends on March 28 – would be bumpy and challenging.
“There are sectors, there are regions across the country who continue to do it tough, but these numbers are encouraging and these numbers give Australians confidence about their economic future,” he said.
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Nationally, the number of Australians employed increased by 89,000 between January and February, a majority of them women, to reach just over 13 million.
The unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points to 5.8 per cent, with unemployment decreasing by 70,000 people.
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