LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The May 2011 estimate of the total number of persons employed in South Australia (in trend terms) has risen to 821,500, up from 819,900 the previous month. The current estimate is 1.8% above the figure recorded in May 2010 (806,700). Nationally, a total of 11,444,200 persons were employed in May 2011; 2.3% higher than the corresponding month of the previous year (11,192,000).

In South Australia, the May 2011 trend estimate for the number of males employed full-time increased to 365,800, up from 365,500 the previous month; continuing its upward trend. Looking at the composition of all male employees at this time, those working full-time accounted for 82.5% of the male workforce, up from 82.1% at the same time the previous year.

The number of South Australian females employed full-time rose in May 2011 to 188,800; 0.7% below the peak recorded in September 2010 (190,100). At that time full-time female employees accounted for 50.5% of the female workforce. In May 2011, this proportion was 50.0%.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rate for South Australia fell slightly to 5.4% in May 2011. The national unemployment rate remained steady over the same period at 4.9%. South Australia's rate has been higher than the national rate since April 2010.

The trend unemployment rate for males in South Australia has remained relatively flat over recent months and in May 2011 was 5.4%. The female unemployment rate has also shown little movement, however the May estimate fell slightly to 5.5%. The national unemployment rate for males and females in May 2011 was 4.6% and 5.2% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

South Australia's trend estimate participation rate for May 2011 was 63.7%, up from 63.6% the previous month. Australia's participation rate remained steady at 65.6% for the same period.

The participation rate for South Australian males has increased slightly in recent months to be 70.1% in May 2011. While historically higher than the South Australian rate, the Australian participation rate for males has been declining, and in May 2011 was 72.3%.

The participation rate for South Australian females remained steady in May 2011 at 57.5%. In comparison, the national participation rate for females was 59.0% for the same time.

*DATA NOTES

Please refer to the article Impact of the floods on the Labour Force Survey in Labour Force, Australia, Jan 2011 (cat. no. 6202.0).