CIVILIAN LABOUR FORCE BY REGION
As at May 2007, an improved method of estimation for the Labour Force Survey (LFS) was introduced. The new method, known as composite estimation, produces lower standard errors than the previous estimation method. As part of introducing composite estimation, the ABS has revised all labour force statistics back to April 2001, based on the new estimation method. More information on the statistical impacts of this new estimation method is available in Information Paper: Forthcoming Changes to Labour Force Statistics (cat. no. 6292.0) released on 21 May 2007.
Between September quarter 2006 and September 2007, the Victorian labour force grew by 54,800 people (2.0%). During this period, the number of employed persons rose by 61,900 (2.4%) and the number of unemployed persons fell by 7,200 (-5.8%). The unemployment rate decreased from 4.6% to 4.3%.
Between September 2006 and September 2007, the labour force grew by 48,400 persons (2.5%) in the Melbourne Major Statistical Region (MSR) and by 6,300 persons (0.9%) in the Balance of Victoria MSR. The proportion of employed persons who worked full-time increased from 71.7% to 71.9% in the Melbourne MSR, but decreased in the Balance of Victoria MSR (69.6% to 68.3%).
The number of unemployed people decreased by 2,400 (-2.8%) in the Melbourne MSR and fell by 4,900 (-12.4%) in Balance of Victoria MSR. The unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% to 4.1% in the Melbourne MSR and from 5.5% to 4.8% in the Balance of Victoria MSR. The labour force participation rate rose in the Melbourne MSR (65.3% to 65.7%), but fell from 63.9% to 63.3% in the Balance of Victoria MSR.
Within the Balance of Victoria, the Central Highlands-Wimmera statistical region displayed the largest increase in employment (6,300 persons) followed by the All Gippsland statistical region (5,800 persons) and the Goulburn-Ovens-Murray statistical region (3,200 persons). Falls in employment were experienced in the Loddon-Mallee and Barwon-Western District statistical regions (3,500 and 700 persons respectively). All statistical regions experienced a fall in their unemployment rate over the period, except for the All Gippsland and Loddon-Mallee statistical regions.
View underlying table as an Excel spreadsheet (zipped): 1367.2 Table 1, Civilian Labour Force, By Region (file size 29kb).
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