LABOUR MARKET
JOB VACANCIES
The number of job vacancies have risen for 6 consecutive quarters in Western Australia, increasing 4.6% (1,100) in the February quarter 2007. Sustained quarterly growth has led to a yearly increase in job vacancies of 21.4% (4,400) between the February quarters of 2006 and 2007. Of the 25,000 job vacancies recorded in the February quarter 2007, 94.8% (23,700) were private sector vacancies and 5.2% (1,300) were public sector vacancies. Private sector job vacancies grew 5.3% (1,200) in the February quarter 2007 and 22.8% (4,400) through the year to February quarter 2007. The rise in Western Australia's job vacancies indicates employment should also continue to grow through mid-2007, as long as jobs can be suitably filled by the available labour supply.
EMPLOYMENT
Western Australia's full-time employment (trend) rose 0.3% (up 2,600 persons) to 776,100 persons in the three months to May 2007, following growth of 0.7% (5,400 persons) in the previous three month period. All of the increase in the last three months was attributable to female full-time employment rising 1.1% (2,800 persons), partially offset by declining male full-time employment (down 200 persons). Estimated part-time employment in Western Australia rose 1.4% (4,400 persons) to 320,800 persons in the three months to May 2007, mainly attributable to increased male part-time employment (up 4.8% or 4,000 persons). Female part-time employment was up 0.4% (400 persons). Overall, employment rose 0.6% (7,000 persons) to 1,096,900 persons in the three months to May 2007.
EMPLOYED PERSONS, Total
The main industries contributing to the rise in Western Australia's employment (original) through the year to May 2007 (up 30,700 persons or 2.9%) were property and business services (up 10,000 persons or 8.1%), education (up 6,900 persons or 10.0%) and government administration and defence (up 5,200 persons or 11.3%). From an occupation perspective, the main occupations driving the state's employment growth were professionals (up 26,800 persons or 14.4%), associate professionals (up 9,100 persons or 6.8%) and intermediate production and transport workers (up 8,200 persons or 8.7%).
UNEMPLOYMENT
The number of unemployed persons (trend) fell 1.5% (500 persons) to 33,300 persons in Western Australia in the three months to May 2007, solely attributable to the number of unemployed males declining 5.7% (1,000 persons), partly offset by increasing female unemployed (up 3.0% or 500 persons). The unemployment rate (trend) in Western Australia fell marginally, from 3.0% in February 2007 to 2.9% in May 2007. Nationally, the unemployment rate also declined, from 4.5% to 4.3% between February and May 2007.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Print Page
Print All