LABOUR MARKET




JOB VACANCIES

Job vacancies in Western Australia decreased by 16.9% (down 5,500) in the February quarter 2008, after experiencing increases for eight consecutive quarters, from 20,600 job vacancies in the February quarter 2006 to 32,600 for the November quarter 2007. Through the year to February quarter 2008, job vacancies in Western Australia increased by 8.3% (up 2,100) to 27,100. The increase is attributed to the public sector (up 1,000 or 75.9%) and the private sector (up 1,100 or 4.5%) both recording growth.


EMPLOYMENT

Western Australia's full-time employment (trend) rose 0.4% (up 3,600 persons) to 818,000 persons in the three months to May 2008, following growth of 1.0% (8,000 persons) in the previous three month period. The increase in the three months to May 2008 was attributable to increases in both female full-time employment (up 0.6% or 1,700 persons) and male full-time employment (up 0.3% or 1,900 persons).

Estimated part-time employment in Western Australia fell 0.8% (down 2,400 persons) to 312,800 persons in the three months to May 2008. This was wholely attributable to male part-time employment (down 2.8% or 2,400 persons). Overall, employment numbers rose 0.1% (1,200 persons) to 1,130,800 persons in the three months to May 2008.

The main industries contributing to the rise in Western Australia's employment (original) through the year to May 2008 (up 25,000 or 2.3%) were Mining (up 24,200 persons or 48.8%), Construction (up 16,000 or 15.1%), Education (up 9,700 persons or 12.7%) and Manufacturing (up 7,800 persons or 8.0%). In contrast, industries that recorded declining growth over the same period of time included Retail trade (down 10,200 persons or 6.4%), Agriculture, forestry and fishing (down 6,500 persons or 15.1%) and Government administration and defence (down 4,400 persons or 8.6%).

From an occupation perspective, the main occupations driving the state's employment growth were Tradesperson and related workers (up 19,400 persons or 13.3%), Intermediate production and transport workers (up 16,400 persons or 16.0%), Associate professionals (up 3,500 persons or 2.5%) and Managers and administrators (up 3,300 persons or 4.0%). However, decreases for the year to May 2008 were recorded for the occupations of Intermediate clerical, sales and service workers (down 11,100 persons or 6.1%), Elementary clerical, sales and service workers (down 10,200 persons or 10.4%) and Advanced clerical and service workers (down 600 persons or 1.6%).


UNEMPLOYMENT

The unemployment rate (trend) in Western Australia rose marginally, from 3.2% in February 2008 to 3.4% in May 2008. Nationally, the unemployment rate also slightly increased, from 4.1% to 4.2% between February and May 2008. The number of unemployed persons (trend) rose by 7.2% (2,700 persons) to 40,200 persons in Western Australia in the three months to May 2008. Unemployed Males contributed twice as much to the unemployment figure with an increase of 9.5% (1,900 persons), while the female unemployment figures were up 4.6% (800 persons).