LABOUR MARKET
JOB VACANCIES
Job vacancies in Western Australia have risen for eight consecutive quarters since November quarter 2005. There were 32,600 job vacancies in Western Australia in the November quarter 2007, an increase of 9.8% (or 2,900) compared to the previous period. Through the year to November quarter 2007, job vacancies in the state increased by 36.3% (8,700) to 32,600. The vast majority of vacancies were created in the private sector (up 7,700 or 34.0%), with public sector vacancies also rising over the same period (up 1,000 or 73.4%).
EMPLOYMENT
Full-time employment (trend) in Western Australia rose by 1.1% (9,000) to 815,600 persons in the three months to February 2008, following an increase of 1.0% (7,900) in the previous three month period. All of the increase in the last three months was attributable to both male and female full-time employment. Female full-time employment rose by 1.6% (4,300), while male full-time employment increased by 0.9% (4,700). Estimated part-time employment in Western Australia rose 0.2% (600) to 316,300 persons in the three months to February 2008, mainly attributable to increased male part-time employment (up 2.1% or 1,800). Female part-time employment, however, was down by 0.6% (1,300). Overall, employment rose 0.9% (9,600) to 1,131,900 persons in the three months to February 2008.
EMPLOYED PERSONS, Total
The main industries contributing to Western Australia's employment growth (original) of 3.6% (up 39,600) through the year to February 2008 were construction (up 12.5% or 13,800), education (up 17.7% or 12,600) and transport and storage (up 24.3% or 9,800). The number of employed persons declined in accommodation, cafe and restaurants (down 17.7% or 8,600), government administration and defence (down 11.3% or 6,100) and retail trade (down 2.2% or 3,400). The major occupations driving the state's employment growth over the same period were professionals (up 12.6% or 25,000), tradespersons and related workers (up 7.7% or 11,800), and associate professionals (up 7.6% or 10,100).
UNEMPLOYMENT
The number of unemployed persons (trend) in Western Australia fell by 5.8% (2,200) to 35,900 persons in the three months to February 2008. The fall was attributable to decreases in both male and female unemployment, with male unemployment falling by 6.9% (down 1,400) to 18,800 and female unemployment falling by 3.9% (down 700) to 17,200. The unemployment rate (trend) in Western Australia fell from 3.3% in November 2007 to 3.1% in February 2008. Nationally, the unemployment rate also declined, from 4.3% to 4.1% between November 2007 and February 2008.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
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