LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia in January 2009 was 780,000, a decrease of 1,200 from the number of persons employed in December 2008 (781,200). The total number of persons employed in Australia in January 2009 was 10,745,400, an increase of 300 on the number employed in December 2008 (10,745,100).

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia in January 2009 was 361,600 (in trend terms), a decrease from 362,100 in December 2008. The number of females employed full-time in South Australia in January 2009 was 173,100 (in trend terms), a decrease from 173,900 in December 2008.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rate for South Australia increased slightly from 5.5% in December 2008 to 5.6% in January 2009. Australia's unemployment rate also increased slightly from 4.5% in December 2008 to 4.6% in January 2009.

For South Australia, the trend unemployment rate for males increased slightly from 5.2% in December 2008 to 5.3% in January 2009. The trend unemployment rate for females in South Australia rose slightly from 5.9% in December 2008 to 6.0% in January 2009.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia in January 2009 was 63.2%, down slightly from 63.3% in December 2008. Australia's trend participation rate also decreased slightly from 65.1% in December 2008 to 65.0% in January 2009.

For South Australia, the trend participation rate for males dropped slightly from 70.2% in December 2008 to 70.0% in January 2009. The Australian participation rate for males remained constant from December 2008 to January 2009 at 72.1%. The participation rate for South Australian females remained constant from December 2008 to January 2009 at 56.6%. The Australian female participation rate also remained constant over this period at 58.2%.