LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia has increased to be 813,400 persons in September 2010. This represents an increase of 2.0% over the estimate recorded in September 2009 (797,100) with more than half of the growth occurring between September 2009 and January 2010. Nationally a total of 11,300,400 persons were employed in September 2010; an increase of 3.1% over the corresponding month of the previous year.

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia increased to be 363,200 (in trend terms) in September 2010. Looking at the composition of all male employees, those working full-time accounted for 83.0% of the male workforce, up from 80.8% in September 2009. The number of females employed full-time increased for the eleventh consecutive month to be 188,900 in September 2010; 3.9% higher than the corresponding month of the previous year. At that time full-time female employees accounted for 49.2% and by September 2010 this proportion had risen to 50.3%.


UNEMPLOYMENT

After increasing between February and May 2010, South Australia's trend unemployment rate has held steady at 5.4% but remains above the national unemployment rate for the fifth consecutive month. Australia's unemployment rate (in trend terms) has fallen from 5.8% in mid 2009 to be 5.1% in September 2010.

From a high of 6.2% in mid 2009, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian males fell to 5.1% in January and February 2010. Since that time, the series has been gradually rising with male unemployment 5.5% in September 2010. In contrast, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian females rose from a low of 4.9% in mid 2009 before plateauing at 5.4% between March and June 2010. Over the last three months the series has started falling again and was 5.2% in September 2010.

Nationally, the trend unemployment rates for males and females in September 2010 were 5.0% and 5.3% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

Following six months of relative stability, the trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia has risen marginally in the last two months and was 63.5% in September 2010. Australia's trend participation rate has also shown very little variation over the same period and was 65.5% in September.

In South Australia, the participation rate for males fell gradually over the first half of 2010, but since then has held steady and was 69.8% in September 2010. The Australian participation rate for males has shown little movement for more than a year and was 72.4% in September 2010. From a peak of 58.0% in April and May 2009, the participation rate for South Australian females fell to 56.7% in early 2010, but has risen gradually since then to be 57.4% in September. The Australian female participation rate also rose marginally in September to be 58.8%.