6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, Oct 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/11/2009   
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MEDIA RELEASE
November 12, 2009
Embargo: 11.30 am (CANBERRA TIME) 12/11/2009
83/2009
Australia's unemployment rate at 5.8 per cent in October 2009: ABS

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in October, according to the latest Labour Force figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in September.

The number of people employed increased by 24,500 to 10.832 million (seasonally adjusted) the ABS reported. The rise in employment was driven by an increase in part-time employment, up 21,500 to 3.241 million with full-time employment increasing 2,900 to 7.591 million persons.

The number of people unemployed increased by 11,100 in October, standing at 670,100, the highest level since January 2002 according to the ABS.

The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a fall in October, down 1.9 million hours (to 1,521.1 million hours) from September.

The ABS participation rate was unchanged in October at 65.2 per cent.

More details are available in the October 2009 release of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>