LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia in September 2008 was 783,400, an increase of 1,000 from the number of persons employed in August 2008 (782,400). The total number of persons employed in Australia in September 2008 was 10,737,000, an increase of 7,300 on the number employed in August 2008 (10,729,700).

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia in September 2008 was 361,900 (in trend terms), an increase from 360,900 in August 2008. The number of females employed full-time in South Australia in September 2008 was 181,600 (in trend terms), a decrease from 181,900 in August 2008.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rate for South Australia rose slightly to 5.0% in September 2008, up from 4.9% in August 2008. Australia's unemployment rate remained unchanged from August 2008 to September 2008 at 4.2%.

For South Australia, the trend unemployment rate for males rose slightly from 4.9% in August 2008 to 5.0% in September 2008. The trend unemployment rate for females rose slightly from 5.0% in August 2008 to 5.1% in September 2008.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia in September 2008 was 63.4%, up slightly from 63.3% in August 2008. Australia's trend participation rate remained constant from August 2008 to September 2008 at 65.2%.

For South Australia, the trend participation rate for males rose slightly to 70.7% in September 2008, up from 70.6% in August 2008. The Australian participation rate for males has been consistently higher than that for South Australia, and was unchanged from August 2008 to September 2008 at 72.3%. The participation rate for South Australian females rose slightly from 56.2% in August 2008 to 56.3% in September 2008. The Australian female participation rate remained steady over this period at 58.2%.