Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are based on information collected from people in a sample of dwellings, rather than the entire population. Hence the estimates produced may differ from those that would have been produced if the entire population had been included in the survey. The most common measure of the likely difference (or 'sampling error') is the standard error (SE).
The ABS considers that estimates with a relative standard error of 25% or more may be subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes.
To determine if an item has a relative standard error of 25% or more, in SuperTABLE, right click in the centre of the table, select annotate cells - standard annotations, and select 'Annotate RSE cut-off values'.
To indicate those cells in spreadsheets with a relative standard error of 25% or more, annotations have been applied prior to dissemination.
In addition, the tables below have been supplied to show estimates at which the relative standard error is 25%. Estimates of the size indicated in the tables, or smaller, are considered to be subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes.
Due to the January 2011 flooding in Queensland the relative standard errors for January will be higher than normal in some regions, therefore for Queensland the estimates at which the relative standard error is 25% will be higher than they appear in the tables below. However from February, the data returns to normal.
The RSEs for July 2013 (50% old sample, 50% new sample) and onwards will be subject to revisions in the future, as more information is known about the new sample after it has been introduced.
Additional information on how standard errors for LFS estimates are produced is available in Labour Force Survey Standard Errors, Data Cube (cat. no. 6298.0.55.001).
| State | NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Aust |
| Employed |  | | | | | | | | |
| Feb 1978 - Sep 1982 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
| Oct 1982 - Aug 1987 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| Sep 1987 - Aug 1992 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1992 - Aug 1997 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1997 - Mar 2001 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2001 - Oct 2007 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2007 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 5.0 |
| Dec 2007 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 5.0 |
| Jan 2008 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 5.1 |
| Feb 2008 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 5.1 |
| Mar 2008 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 5.2 |
| Apr 2008 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| May 2008 | 5.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 5.4 |
| Jun 2008 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 5.4 |
| Jul 2008 - Aug 2009 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 7.7 |
| Sep 2009 | 6.6 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 7.2 |
| Oct 2009 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 6.7 |
| Nov 2009 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 6.4 |
| Dec 2009 - Jun 2013 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 6.0 |
| Jul 2013 onwards | 7.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 7.8 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Unemployed | | | | | | | | | |
| Feb 1978 - Sep 1982 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
| Oct 1982 - Aug 1987 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| Sep 1987 - Aug 1992 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1992 - Aug 1997 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1997 - Mar 2001 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2001 - Oct 2007 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 4.7 |
| Nov 2007 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 4.8 |
| Dec 2007 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 4.8 |
| Jan 2008 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 4.9 |
| Feb 2008 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 4.9 |
| Mar 2008 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 5.0 |
| Apr 2008 | 6.5 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 5.1 |
| May 2008 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| Jun 2008 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
| Jul 2008 - Aug 2009 | 8.9 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 7.5 |
| Sep 2009 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 7.0 |
| Oct 2009 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 6.5 |
| Nov 2009 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 6.1 |
| Dec 2009 - Jun 2013 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 5.8 |
| Jul 2013 onwards | 7.3 | 6.6 | 8.4 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 7.1 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| NILF | | | | | | | | | |
| Feb 1978 - Sep 1982 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
| Oct 1982 - Aug 1987 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| Sep 1987 - Aug 1992 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1992 - Aug 1997 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Sep 1997 - Mar 2001 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2001 - Oct 2007 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| Nov 2007 | 6.0 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 5.3 |
| Dec 2007 | 6.1 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 5.4 |
| Jan 2008 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 5.4 |
| Feb 2008 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| Mar 2008 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 5.6 |
| Apr 2008 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 5.7 |
| May 2008 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 5.8 |
| Jun 2008 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 5.8 |
| Jul 2008 - Aug 2009 | 8.7 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 8.3 |
| Sep 2009 | 8.1 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 7.8 |
| Oct 2009 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 7.3 |
| Nov 2009 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 6.9 |
| Dec 2009 - Jun 2013 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 6.5 |
| Jul 2013 onwards | 8.4 | 4.4 | 9.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 9.0 |
| Capital City / Balance of State | Sep 1992 -
Aug 1997 | Sep 1997 -
Mar 2001 | Apr 2001 -
Oct 2007 | Nov 2007 -
Jun 2008 | Jul 2008 -
Nov 2009 | Dec 2009 -
Jun 2013 | From
Jul 2013 |
| Sydney | 5.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 8.1 |
| Balance of NSW | 5.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 8.0 |
| Melbourne | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 3.7 |
| Balance of Victoria | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Brisbane | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 6.9 |
| Balance of Queensland | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 7.5 |
| Adelaide | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| Balance of South Australia | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
| Perth | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| Balance of Western Australia | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 3.9 |
| Hobart | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Balance of Tasmania | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Regions | Nov 2007 -
Jun 2008 | Jul 2008 -
Nov 2009 | Dec 2009 -
Jun 2013 | From
Jul 2013 |
| | | | |
| Inner Sydney and Inner Western Sydney | 8.0 | 10.5 | 8.0 | 10.5 |
| Inner Sydney | 8.5 | 11.1 | 8.5 | 11.1 |
| Inner Western Sydney | 7.4 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 9.7 |
| Eastern Suburbs | 9.6 | 12.5 | 9.6 | 12.5 |
| St. George-Sutherland | 7.3 | 9.6 | 7.3 | 9.6 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 7.3 | 9.5 | 7.3 | 9.5 |
| Fairfield-Liverpool and Outer South Western Sydney | 7.4 | 9.7 | 7.4 | 9.7 |
| Fairfield-Liverpool | 7.5 | 9.8 | 7.5 | 9.8 |
| Outer South Western Sydney | 7.3 | 9.6 | 7.3 | 9.5 |
| Central Western Sydney | 7.9 | 10.4 | 7.9 | 10.3 |
| North Western Sydney | 7.3 | 9.5 | 7.3 | 9.5 |
| Lower Northern Sydney | 7.8 | 10.3 | 7.8 | 10.2 |
| Central Northern Sydney | 7.2 | 9.5 | 7.2 | 9.4 |
| Northern Beaches | 7.8 | 10.2 | 7.8 | 10.1 |
| Gosford-Wyong | 7.4 | 9.7 | 7.4 | 9.6 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Hunter | 7.1 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 9.2 |
| Newcastle | 7.1 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 9.2 |
| Hunter excluding Newcastle | 7.1 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 9.3 |
| Illawarra and South Eastern NSW | 7.7 | 10.1 | 7.7 | 10.1 |
| Illawarra | 8.1 | 10.6 | 8.1 | 10.5 |
| Wollongong | 7.6 | 10.0 | 7.6 | 9.9 |
| Illawarra excluding Wollongong | 9.0 | 11.7 | 9.0 | 11.7 |
| South Eastern NSW | 7.2 | 9.4 | 7.2 | 9.3 |
| Richmond-Tweed and Mid-North Coast | 7.6 | 10.0 | 7.6 | 9.9 |
| Northern, Far West, North Western and Central West NSW | 7.5 | 9.8 | 7.5 | 9.7 |
| Northern, North Western and Central West NSW | 7.6 | 9.9 | 7.6 | 9.9 |
| Far West NSW | 6.4 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 8.4 |
| Murray-Murrumbidgee | 7.5 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 9.8 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| North Western Melbourne | 6.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Outer Western Melbourne | 5.9 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 4.6 |
| Inner Melbourne | 7.4 | 9.7 | 7.4 | 5.8 |
| North Eastern Melbourne | 6.4 | 8.3 | 6.4 | 4.9 |
| Inner Eastern Melbourne | 6.1 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 4.7 |
| Southern Melbourne | 6.3 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 4.9 |
| Outer Eastern Melbourne | 6.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| South Eastern Melbourne | 6.1 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 4.8 |
| Mornington Peninsula | 6.2 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 4.8 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Barwon-Western District | 6.3 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 4.9 |
| Central Highlands-Wimmera | 6.8 | 8.9 | 6.8 | 5.3 |
| Loddon-Mallee | 6.5 | 8.6 | 6.5 | 5.1 |
| Goulbourn-Ovens-Murray | 7.2 | 9.4 | 7.2 | 5.6 |
| All Gippsland | 7.0 | 9.1 | 7.0 | 5.4 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Brisbane City Inner Ring | 5.8 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 8.9 |
| Brisbane City Outer Ring | 5.6 | 7.3 | 5.6 | 8.6 |
| South and East BSD Balance | 5.6 | 7.3 | 5.6 | 8.6 |
| North BSD Balance | 5.3 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 8.2 |
| Ipswich City | 5.3 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 8.2 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Gold Coast | 6.2 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 9.6 |
| Gold Coast North | 7.4 | 9.7 | 7.4 | 11.5 |
| Gold Coast South | 5.9 | 7.7 | 5.9 | 9.1 |
| Sunshine Coast | 5.9 | 7.7 | 5.9 | 9.1 |
| West Moreton | 5.9 | 7.7 | 5.9 | 9.1 |
| Wide Bay-Burnett | 6.2 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 9.6 |
| Mackay-Fitzroy-Central West Qld | 5.7 | 7.5 | 5.7 | 8.9 |
| Darling Downs-South West Qld | 6.3 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 9.7 |
| Northern-North West Qld | 6.4 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 9.9 |
| Far North Qld | 6.7 | 8.8 | 6.7 | 10.4 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Northern Adelaide | 3.0 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 |
| Western Adelaide | 3.4 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| Eastern Adelaide | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
| Southern Adelaide | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Southern and Eastern SA | 2.8 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 |
| Northern and Western SA | 3.4 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.2 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Central Metropolitan Perth | 4.8 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 5.8 |
| East Metropolitan Perth | 4.5 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 |
| North Metropolitan Perth | 4.3 | 5.7 | 4.3 | 5.2 |
| South West Metropolitan Perth | 4.2 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| South East Metropolitan Perth | 4.5 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 5.5 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Lower Western WA | 3.8 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Remainder-Balance WA | 4.5 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 5.4 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Greater Hobart | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Southern Tas | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
| Northern Sector Tas | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Mersey-Lyell Sector | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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