LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The April 2011 estimate of the total number of persons employed in South Australia (in trend terms) has risen to 820,300, up from 818,700 the previous month. The April estimate is 1.7% above the estimate recorded in April 2010 (806,400). Nationally, a total of 11,446,100 persons were employed in April 2011; 2.5% higher than the corresponding month of the previous year (11,166,100).

In South Australia, the trend estimate for the number of males employed full-time increased slightly from the previous month (365,000) to 365,800 in April 2011; continuing its upward trend. Looking at the composition of all male employees, those working full-time accounted for 82.8% of the male workforce, up from 81.9% at the same time the previous year.

The number of South Australian females employed full-time fell in April 2011 to 187,200; 1.7% below the peak recorded in October 2010 (190,400). At that time full-time female employees accounted for 50.6% of the female workforce. In April 2011, this proportion was 49.5%.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rates for both South Australia and Australia remained relatively steady in April 2011 at 5.5% and 4.9% respectively. South Australia's rate has been higher than the national rate since April 2010.

The trend unemployment rates for males and females in South Australia has fluctuated over the last 12 months, and in April 2011 the estimates were 5.4% and 5.5% respectively. Over the same period, the national unemployment rates for males and females have been falling, and in April 2011 were 4.6% and 5.2% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

Movement in South Australia's trend estimate participation rate has been relatively flat over recent months, and in April 2011 the estimate was 63.6%. Australia's trend participation rate remains higher than South Australia's rate at 65.7% for April 2011.

The participation rate for South Australian males has increased slightly over recent months to be 69.9% in April 2011. While historically higher than the South Australian rate, the Australian participation rate for males has fallen slightly, and in April 2011 was 72.5%.

The participation rate for South Australian females remained steady in April 2011 at 57.6% compared to the national participation rate for females of 59.0% at the same time.

*DATA NOTES

Please refer to the article Impact of the floods on the Labour Force Survey in Labour Force, Australia, Jan 2011 (cat. no. 6202.0).