LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia has increased slightly to be 807,900 persons in July 2010. This represents an increase of 1.5% over the estimate recorded in July 2009 (796,300) with most of the growth occurring between August and December 2009. Nationally a total of 11,220,600 persons were employed in July 2010; an increase of 2.7% over the corresponding month of the previous year.

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia increased slightly to be 359,600 (in trend terms) in July 2010. Looking at the composition of all male employees, those working full-time accounted for 82.6% of the male workforce, up from 81.6% in July 2009. The number of females employed full-time increased for the eighth consecutive month to be 186,900 in July 2010; 1.3% higher than the corresponding month of the previous year. At that time full-time female employees accounted for 49.5% and by July 2010 this proportion had risen to 50.1%.


UNEMPLOYMENT

After falling from 5.6% to 5.2% between August and December 2009, South Australia's unemployment rate has been on an upward trend in 2010. The July estimate of 5.3% sees the series remain above the national rate of unemployment for the fourth consecutive month. Australia's unemployment rate (in trend terms) has fallen from 5.8% in July 2009 to 5.2% in July 2010.

Having fallen from 6.2% in June 2009, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian males held steady at 5.1% in January and February 2010 before rising to be 5.3% in July. From a low of 4.9% in mid 2009, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian females has also been on the rise, although it has remained relatively steady over the last few months and was 5.4% in July 2010.

Nationally, the trend unemployment rates for males and females in July 2010 held steady at 5.1% and 5.3% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

The trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia has shown very little movement over recent months and was 63.2% in July 2010. Similarly, Australia's trend participation rate has also remained relatively stable over the same period and was 65.3% in July.

In South Australia, the participation rate for males has fallen slightly over the last six months to be 69.5% in July 2010. In comparison, the Australian participation rate for males remained steady at 72.3% in July 2010, showing little change for almost the last year and a half. 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 57.2% in July. The Australian female participation rate remained steady at 58.6% in July 2010.