1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Dec 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/01/2008   
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Labour market LABOUR MARKET

JOB VACANCIES

There were 29,700 job vacancies in Western Australia in the August quarter 2007, 31.8% (7,100) more than in the same quarter of 2006. The vast majority of vacancies were created in the private sector (up 6,800 or 31.8%), with public sector vacancies also higher (up 400 or 32.2%).



EMPLOYMENT

The number of employed persons (trend) in Western Australia rose 0.4% (4,000) to 1,119,600 in the three months to November 2007, a much lower rise than in the three months to August 2007 (up 1.2% or 13,600). The deceleration in employment growth was driven solely by lower part-time employment, which declined by an estimated 0.8% (2,600) in the three months. Full time employment was up 0.8% (6,600) to 805,900.

EMPLOYED PERSONS, Total
Graph: Employed persons, total



The major industries driving Western Australia's employment growth of 3.1% (33,500) in original terms through the year to November 2007 were health and community services (up 15.9% or 15,900), transport and storage (up 31.7% or 12,700) and construction (up 9.5% or 10,900). A number of industries recorded falls in employed persons through the year, including retail trade (down 4.9% or 7,600) and government administration and defence (down 13.0% or 7,100). The most notable movement among the occupations was a 15.8% (30,200) rise in employed professionals through the year to November 2007.



UNEMPLOYMENT

Western Australia's unemployment rate (trend) remained unchanged at 3.4% in the three months to November 2007. This rate of unemployment was higher than what was recorded at the beginning of the year: 3.0% in February and March 2007. In the three months to November 2007, the number of unemployed persons rose 1.3% (500) to 39,900 in Western Australia. But since February 2007, unemployed persons have increased 18.4% or 6,200 persons - although coinciding with a greater rate of participation in the state's labour force, rising from 67.4% in February 2007 to 68.4% in November 2007.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Graph: Unemployment rate