More jobless in Australia

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33918, 11 August 1975, Page 15

More jobless in Australia

'.V Z Pre<s Assn — Copyright) CANBERRA. August 10. The Australian unemployment rate increased markedly in July, figures released by the Government today’ showed. On a seasonally adjusted basis unemployment rose by 17,477 to 287,666, or 4.8 per cent of the work force, the highest rate this year. The acting Minister of Labour and Immigration (Senator James McClelland) said the increase followed two months of relative stability in the employment sector. Although industrial disputes were a primary factor in the increase, the' rise in seasonally adjusted unemployment" would still have occurred, he said. The original unemployment figures show a rise of 5647 to 251,622 or 4.2 per cent of the work force. REGIONAL SCHEMES

As well as the increase in unemployment the number of people employed under regional development schemes increased by 2000 to 32.000.

Job vacancies stayed at low levels, rising by only 11 to 25.528 in actual terms and 514 to 30,462 on a seasonal basis.

With the phasing out of new regional development programmes and the ceilings imposed on Federal and state public services, unemployment looks certain to in-

[crease dramatically near the 'end of the year when school leavers enter the work force. Seasonally adjusted unemployed excluding school leavers in July increased by 14,497 and school leavers increased by 2980. INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES The number of people registered who claimed to be unemployed as a result of industrial disputes increased during July by 1825 to 5569. The amount of overtime worked in July also fell. The rise in seasonally adjusted unemployment occurred in all states except South Australia and Western Australia and was most pronounced in Victoria and Queensland. Senator McClelland said that it was encouraging to see some increased demand for labour in the dwelling and clothing industries, which had been among the most depressed. “CONFIDENCE LACKING’ The deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Phillip Lynch) said the employment statistics reflected the serious lack of confidence within the private sector. He said that Australia’s level of unemployment would increase significantly during late 1975 and early 1976. “There will be a record 'number of school leavers seeking employment at the ■end of the school year,” he said.

| “The number will include parge numbers of students I who deferred leaving school past year because of job ! shortages."