1303.6 - Tasmanian Statistical Indicators, Jun 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/06/2004  Ceased
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THE LABOUR FORCE

Trend estimates

There were an estimated 227,900 persons (based on trend estimates) in the labour force in April 2004 and an estimated 384,500 civilian Tasmanians aged 15 years or more, yielding a labour force participation rate of 59.3%, compared to the April 2003 estimate of 58.9%. The Australian labour force participation rate for April 2004 was 63.7%, compared to the April 2003 estimate of 63.8% - Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

For Tasmanian males, the trend estimate of the participation rate was 67.6% in April 2004, compared to the April 2003 estimate of 66.8%. For Tasmanian females, the trend estimate of the participation rate was 51.4% in April 2004, compared to 51.3% in April 2003.


EMPLOYMENT

Trend estimates

The trend estimate of the total number of employed persons in Tasmania in April 2004 was 212,700, compared to 203,800 in April 2003, an increase of 4.4%. Employment over the same period increased in New South Wales by 1.7%, Victoria by 2.0%, Queensland by 3.2%, South Australia by 0.3% and Western Australia by 2.2%. The increase in the national employment figure over the same period was 2.1% - see Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

EMPLOYMENT, TASMANIA
Graph: Employment Tasmania



UNEMPLOYMENT

Trend estimates

The trend estimate of the number of unemployed persons in Tasmania for April 2004 was 15,200 compared to 19,200 in April 2003. The trend estimate of the unemployment rate for April 2004 was 6.7%, a decrease from the April 2003 figure of 8.6%. The Australian trend estimate of the unemployment rate was 5.7% in April 2004 compared to 6.2% in April 2003 - see Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

UNEMPLOYMENT, TASMANIA
Graph: Unemployment Tasmania



HOUSING FINANCE

Trend estimates

In trend terms, the number of housing finance commitments for owner occupation in Tasmania for March 2004 was 1,048, a decrease of 2.9% from the previous month. In the same period, the trend estimate for Australia decreased by 3.2%.

The Tasmanian trend estimate decreased by 6.7% between March 2003 and March 2004, while the national trend estimate decreased by 5.8%. The changes in the number of housing finance commitments for owner occupation over the same period for the other states and territories were New South Wales (-6.1%), Victoria (-8.7%), Queensland (-6.9%), South Australia (-2.1%), Western Australia (2.6%), Northern Territory (13.4%) and Australian Capital Territory (-27.4%) - see Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0).

HOUSING FINANCE TASMANIA, Number of dwellings
Graph: Housing Finance Tasmania


HOUSING FINANCE AUSTRALIA, Number of dwellings
Graph: Housing Finance Australia



BUILDING APPROVALS

Original terms

There were 274 dwelling units approved in Tasmania during March 2004, including 257 new houses. This compares with 200 dwelling units approved during February 2004, including 185 new houses. The number of dwelling units approved in March 2004 increased by 48.1% from the 185 approvals recorded in March 2003.

At current prices, the value of total building approved in Tasmania was $60.8m in March 2004, which was 27.7% above the February 2004 figure of $47.6m and 31.3% above the March 2003 figure of $46.3m. Residential building contributed $46.2m and non-residential building $14.6m in March 2004 - see Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0).


RETAIL

Trend estimates

In trend terms, the estimate of retail turnover in Australia for March 2004 was $15,860.7m, an 8.2% increase from the March 2003 estimate of $14,662.2m. In trend terms, the estimate of retail turnover in Tasmania for March 2004 was $335.9m, a 11.5% increase from the March 2003 estimate of $301.2m - see Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0).


SALES OF NEW MOTOR VEHICLES

Trend estimates

In trend terms, there were 1,408 new motor vehicles sold in Tasmania in March 2004, compared to 1,451 sold in February 2004. The number of new motor vehicles sold in March 2004 increased by 5.5% from the March 2003 figure of 1,335. Passenger vehicles represented 55.5% of all new vehicles sold in Tasmania in March 2004. Nationally, the trend estimate of new motor vehicles sold in March 2004 was 78,521, an increase of 6.1% from the March 2003 figure of 74,034 - see Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (Electronic Publication) (cat. no. 9314.0).


CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Original terms

In original terms, the estimate of total capital expenditure at current prices for Australia in the December quarter 2003 was $13,778m, an 8.0% increase from the September quarter estimate of $12,755m. In original terms, the estimate of total capital expenditure at current prices for Tasmania in the December quarter 2003 was $159m, a 0.6% decrease from the September quarter estimate of $160m.

For Tasmania, the estimate for expenditure on buildings and structures increased by 17.6% from the September quarter to the December quarter 2003, and the estimate for expenditure on equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 2.8%. The estimates of expenditure by the mining industry increased from $5m to $9m, and expenditure by the manufacturing industry and other selected industries each decreased in the December quarter 2003 - see Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure (cat. no. 5625.0).


LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERING

Trend estimates

In March 2004, the trend estimate for Tasmania for the number of cattle and calves slaughtered rose by 2.7% over the previous month. Over the same period, the trend estimate for the number of sheep and lambs slaughtered fell by 4.1%, while the trend estimate for the number of pigs slaughtered fell by 1.7%.

The trend estimate for the number of cattle and calves slaughtered in March 2004 was 24,400, up by 13.4% on the estimate for March 2003 and up by 60.5% on the estimate for March 2002.

The trend estimate for the number of sheep and lambs slaughtered in March 2004 was 58,800, down by 11.8% on the estimate for March 2003 but up by 10.8% on the estimate for March 2002.

The trend estimate for the number of pigs slaughtered in March 2004 was 3,700, down by 6.8% on the estimate for March 2003 and down by 10.6% on the estimate for March 2002.


OVERSEAS TRADE

The value of Tasmania's exports for the month of March 2004 was $219m, an increase of 44% on the month of February 2004. Australia's exports for March 2004 totalled $9,240m.

Tasmania's major export destinations for the month of March 2004 were Japan ($52.7m), Korea ($30.3m) and Hong Kong ($24.5m). Major commodity groups exported for the month were non-ferrous metals ($72.9m), metallic ores and metal scrap ($15.5m) and meat and meat preparations ($9.5m).


CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The Consumer Price Index (All groups) for Hobart increased by 0.7% in the March quarter of 2004. The largest increases (1.0%) occurred in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, while Perth (0.3%) recorded the smallest.