1303.6 - Tasmanian Statistical Indicators, Feb 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/02/2004   
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THE LABOUR FORCE

Trend estimates

There were an estimated 224,700 persons (based on trend estimates) in the labour force in December 2003 and an estimated 382,100 civilian Tasmanians aged 15 years or more, yielding a labour force participation rate of 58.9%, compared to 58.5% in December 2002. The Australian labour force participation rate for December 2003 was 63.8%, compared to the December 2002 estimate of 64.1% - see Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

For Tasmanian males, the trend estimate of the participation rate was 66.3% in December 2003, compared to the December 2002 estimate of 66.9%. For Tasmanian females, the trend estimate of the participation rate was 51.9% in December 2003, compared to 50.5% in December 2002.


EMPLOYMENT

Trend estimates

The trend estimate of the total number of employed persons in Tasmania in December 2003 was 209,400, compared to 200,200 in December 2002, an increase of 4.6%. Employment over the same period increased in New South Wales by 1.5%, Victoria by 1.1%, Queensland by 4.0%, South Australia by 1.4% and Western Australia by 1.3%. The increase in the national employment figure over the same period was 1.8% - see Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).


EMPLOYMENT, TASMANIA
Graph - Employment numbers for Tasmania


UNEMPLOYMENT

Trend estimates

The trend estimate of the number of unemployed persons in Tasmania for December 2003 was 15,300 compared to 19,200 in December 2002. The trend estimate of the unemployment rate for December 2003 was 6.8%, a decrease from the December 2002 figure of 8.8%. The Australian trend estimate of the unemployment rate was 5.6% in December 2003 compared to 6.1% in December 2002 - see Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

UNEMPLOYMENT, TASMANIA
Graph - Unemployment numbers for Tasmania



BUILDING APPROVALS

Original terms

There were 325 dwelling units approved in Tasmania during November 2003, including 244 new houses. This compares to 238 dwelling units approved during October 2003, including 218 new houses. The number of dwelling units approved in November 2003 increased by 119.6% from the 148 approvals recorded in November 2002.

At current prices, the value of total building approved in Tasmania was $64.8m in November 2003, which was 12.7% above the October 2003 figure of $57.5m and 95.2% above the November 2002 figure of $33.2m. Residential building contributed $45.4m and non-residential building $19.4m in November 2003 - see Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0).


RETAIL

Trend estimates

In trend terms, the estimate of retail turnover in Australia for November 2003 was $15,731.3m, a 8.9% increase from the November 2002 estimate of $14,446.2m. In trend terms, the estimate of retail turnover in Tasmania for November 2003 was $335.3m, a 13.2% increase from the November 2002 estimate of $296.2m - see Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0).


SALES OF NEW MOTOR VEHICLES

Trend estimates

In trend terms, there were 1,790 new motor vehicles sold in Tasmania in November 2003, compared to 1,742 sold in October 2003. The number of new motor vehicles sold in November 2003 increased by 42.4% from the November 2002 figure of 1,257. Passenger vehicles represented 65.4% of all new vehicles sold in Tasmania in November 2003. Nationally, the trend estimate of new motor vehicles sold in November 2003 was 79,332, an increase of 12.3% from the November 2002 figure of 70,670 - see Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (Electronic Publication) (cat. no. 9314.0).


LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERING

Trend estimates

In November 2003, monthly movements of trend estimates showed only slight change in the three livestock slaughtering series: cattle and calves rose by 1.7%; sheep and lambs rose by 0.4%; and pigs fell by 0.6%.

The trend estimate for the number of cattle and calves slaughtered in November 2003 was 22,500, up by 6.0% on the estimate for November 2002 and up by 36.7% on the estimate for November 2001.

The trend estimate for the number of sheep and lambs slaughtered in November 2003 was 71,000, up by 19.4% on the estimate for November 2002 and up by 9.7% on the estimate for November 2001.

The trend estimate for the number of pigs slaughtered in November 2003 was 3,880, down by 10.6% on the estimate for November 2002 and down by 18.6% on the estimate for November 2001.


OVERSEAS TRADE

The value of Tasmania's exports for the month of November 2003 was $182m, a decrease of 1% on the month of October 2003. Australia's exports for November 2003 totalled $8,715m.

Tasmania's major export destinations for the month of November 2003 were Japan ($53.6m), Hong Kong ($25.4m) and Korea ($21.6m). Major commodity groups exported for the month were non-ferrous metals ($61.2m), metallic ores and metal scrap ($21.9m) and fish, crustaceans and molluscs ($8.9m).