Jobless rate up slightly, with full-time work down

Submitted 16/01/2009

AAP

 

 The number of people in full-time work fell marginally during December while part-time employment rose, reflecting the increase in holiday-season jobs.

The latest labour-force figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the overall jobless rate rose slightly at 4.5 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms while the participation rate fell 0.1 per cent to 65 per cent.

Total employment fell 1200 to 10,742,300 along with a decline of 43,900 in the number of people in full-time work while part-time employment increased by 42,800 in seasonally adjusted terms.

Unemployment rose by 2600 to 501,100, defying economists' predictions of a more substantial rise.

The number of people looking for full-time work increased by 2600 to 349,400 while those seeking part-time work remained steady at 151,700.

Male unemployment increased by 0.3 per cent to 4.4 per cent while the rate among females also rose 0.3 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

The unemployment rate in NSW remained steady in December at 5.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms compared to November.

But the number of jobless in Victoria rose to 4.6 percent in December (from 4.4 per cent in November), Queensland's rate increased marginally to 3.9 per cent (3.8 per cent), as did Tasmania's to 4.7 per cent (4.5 per cent).

Unemployment fell slightly in South Australia to 5.3 per cent (from 5.4 per cent) and declined in Western Australia to 2.8 per cent (3.0 per cent).

The number of jobless in the Northern Territory rose slightly to 3.8 per cent (3.7 per cent) while unemployment in the ACT declined to 2.6 per cent (2.7 per cent).