SA jobless rate climbs

Submitted 10/08/2009

AAP

 

 

The SA jobless rate has risen by 0.2 per cent despite national rates staying steady.

South Australia joins Queensland and WA as the only regions whose unemployment rate rose in July.

SA's level rose to 5.6 per cent, up from 5.4 per cent, while unemployment in Queensland rose to 5.8 per cent from 5.5 per cent and in Western Australia unemployment surged to 5.7 per cent from 5.2 per cent.

Our level is slightly below the national, which remains steady at 5.8 per cent, official data shows.

The Rudd Government still expects unemployment to peak at 8.5 per cent by 2011.

NSW, Victoria and Tasmania all experienced a drop in unemployment, with Tasmania boasting the lowest rate in the country, at 4.1 per cent.