Aust. unemployment down

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 8

Aust. unemployment down

NZPA-AAP Canberra

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.7 per cent in November from 6.9 per cent the previous month, the Bureau of Statistics said.

This compared with 8.0 per cent in November last year.

The participation rate fell to 62.3 per cent against 62.4 per cent in October and compared with 61.6 per cent in November last year.

It was the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate since May 1982, the bureau said. The bureau said a small

decrease in full-time employment was offset by a large rise in part-time employment during the month.

This meant seasonally adjusted employment was a little higher at 7,453,000 in November compared with 7,445,100 in October and compared with 7,125,300 in November last year. Seasonally adjusted unemployment fell 14,700 to 533.400 in November from 548,100 in October and 617,900 in November last year. The labdur force contracted slightly to 7.986.400 in November from 7,993,200 in October

and compared with 7,743,200 in November last year. The seasonally adjusted teen-age unemployment rate fell to 16.9 per cent in November from 17.1 per cent the previous month and compared with 21.5 per cent in November last year. The bureau said its trend estimates for total employment showed continued growth for both males and females, although employment growth patterns differed between states. Tasmania had the highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate during November, at 10

per cent, followed by South Australia with 7.6 per cent, and Queensland with 7.5 per cent.

New South Wales and Western Australia both recorded a 6.9 per cent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month. Victoria again had the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 5.1 per cent.

Unadjusted rates for the territories put the Northern Territory’s unemployment rate in November at 5.8 per cent. The Australian Capital Territory recorded a 4.8 per cent unemployment rate for the month.