LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia in October 2008 was 784,400, an increase of 900 from the number of persons employed in September 2008 (783,500). The total number of persons employed in Australia in October 2008 was 10,752,800, an increase of 8,900 on the number employed in September 2008 (10,743,900).

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia in October 2008 was 363,500 (in trend terms), an increase from 362,600 in September 2008. The number of females employed full-time in South Australia in October 2008 was 178,800 (in trend terms), a decrease from 179,900 in September 2008.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rate for South Australia rose slightly to 5.2% in October 2008, up from 5.1% in September 2008. Australia's unemployment rate remained unchanged from September 2008 to October 2008 at 4.3%.

For South Australia, the trend unemployment rate for males rose slightly from 5.0% in September 2008 to 5.1% in October 2008. The trend unemployment rate for females was unchanged from September 2008 to October 2008 at 5.3%.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia in October 2008 was 63.5%, up slightly from 63.4% in September 2008. Australia's trend participation rate remained constant from September 2008 to October 2008 at 65.2%.

For South Australia, the trend participation rate for males rose slightly to 70.8% in October 2008, up from 70.7% in September 2008. The Australian participation rate for males dropped slightly from 72.3% in September 2008 to 72.2% in October 2008. The participation rate for South Australian females rose slightly from 56.4% in September 2008 to 56.5% in October 2008. The Australian female participation rate remained steady over this period at 58.3%.