LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia in August 2009 was 788,900, down from 790,500 in the previous month. The total number of persons employed in Australia in August 2009 was 10,770,200, a decrease of 2,000 on the number employed in July 2009 (10,772,200).

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia in August 2009 was 339,700 (in trend terms), a decrease from 342,900 in July 2009. Looking at the composition of all male employees, those working full time accounted for 81.0% of the male workforce, down from 84.3% in August 2008. The number of females employed full-time in South Australia also fell between July and August 2009, from 184,100 to 182,900. Full-time female employees accounted for 49.5% of the female workforce in August 2009, down from 51.1% in August of the previous year.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rates for South Australia and Australia remained steady in August 2009, 5.6% and 5.8% respectively. South Australia's trend unemployment rate continues to be lower than the national rate.

In South Australia, the trend unemployment rates for both males and females have remained steady over the last three months at 6.2% and 4.9% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia fell slightly to 63.0% in August 2009. Australia's trend participation rate held steady at 65.2% over the same period.

For South Australia, the trend participation rate for males dropped slightly from 69.0% in July 2009 to 68.9% in August 2009 continuing the decline that began in October 2008. The Australian participation rate for males remained steady at 72.1%. The participation rate for South Australian females decreased slightly from 57.6% in July to 57.4% in August 2009. The Australian female participation rate was 58.4% in August 2009.