MEDIA RELEASE
12 March 2015	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra Time)	36/2015
Australia's unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 per cent in February 2015

Australia's estimated seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2015 was 6.3 per cent, compared with 6.4 per cent for January 2015. In trend terms, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3 per cent, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

The seasonally adjusted labour force participation rate decreased to 64.6 per cent in February 2015 from 64.7 per cent in January 2015.

The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 15,600 to 11,652,400 in February 2015 (seasonally adjusted). The increase in employment was driven by increases in both full-time (up 10,300) and part-time employment (up 5,300). Seasonally adjusted employment increased for both males (up 9,300) and females (up 6,300) in February 2015.

The ABS seasonally adjusted aggregate monthly hours worked series increased in February 2015, up 13.0 million hours (0.8%) to 1,620.8 million hours.

The seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed decreased by 15,800 to 777,300 in February 2015. The decrease was driven by those looking only for part-time work, down 18,600.

The seasonally adjusted underemployment rate was 8.6 per cent in February 2015, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from November 2014 based on unrounded estimates. Combined with the unemployment rate of 6.3 per cent, the latest seasonally adjusted estimate of total labour force underutilisation was 14.9 per cent in February 2015, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from November 2014.

More details are in the February 2015 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0), as well as the upcoming February 2015 issues of Labour Force, Australia, Detailed (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001) and Labour Force, Australia, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003) due for release on March 19. These publications are available for free download (after release) from the ABS website - http://www.abs.gov.au.

Media note:

• The February 2015 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) incorporates estimates rebenchmarked to the latest population estimates and projections. Commencing from the May 2015 issue this will be a regular quarterly process which will ensure that the Labour Force series reflect the most up to date population benchmarks. Details are included on page 8 of the publication.
• The March 2015 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) will be released on 16 April not 9 April as previously advised. This will provide sufficient time to finalise the annual review of the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates. Details are included on page 2 of the publication.
• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.