LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Job vacancies

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


JOB VACANCIES

In original terms, South Australia's total number of job vacancies increased to about 9,800 in February 2008 from 9,400 in November 2007. The February 2008 vacancies were 1% lower than in February 2007 (9,900). Australia-wide, job vacancies decreased to 178,000 in February 2008 from 182,800 in November 2007. Australian job vacancies in February 2008 were 9% higher than in February 2007.

EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia in May 2008 was 777,600, an increase of 300 from the number of persons employed in April 2008 (777,300). The total number of persons employed in Australia in May 2008 was 10,705,300, an increase of 10,500 on the number employed in April 2008 (10,694,800).

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia in May 2008 was 354,200 (in trend terms), an increase from 353,700 in April 2008. The number of females employed full-time in South Australia in May 2008 was 184,500 (in trend terms), an increase from 184,100 in the previous month.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The trend estimate unemployment rate for South Australia increased to 4.8% in May 2008, up from 4.7% in April 2008. Australia's unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in May 2008, from 4.1% in April 2008.

For South Australia, the trend unemployment rate for males increased to 4.8% in May 2008, up from 4.7% in April 2008. The trend unemployment rate for females increased from 4.8% in April 2008 to 4.9% in May 2008.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia in May 2008 was 63.0%, the same as in April 2008. Australia's trend participation rate also remained steady from April 2008 to May 2008 at 65.3%.

For South Australia, the trend participation rate for males remained unchanged at 70.2% in May 2008. The Australian participation rate for males has been consistently higher than that for South Australia, and was steady at 72.4% in May 2008. The participation rate for South Australian females was 56.1% in May 2008, while the Australian female participation rate was 58.4%.