Labour force figures released today by the ABS underscore the continued strength and resilience of the Australian labour market, with seasonally adjusted employment increasing by 14,700 over the month, to stand at a record high of 12,944,000 in September 2019.
Employment has increased every month for the last three years. This is the greatest number of consecutive monthly increases in employment recorded since the inception of the monthly labour force series in February 1978.
Seasonally adjusted employment is now 311,600 (or 2.5 per cent) higher than it was a year ago and is well above its decade annual average growth rate of 1.8 per cent.
Importantly, seasonally adjusted full-time employment rose strongly in September, by 26,200 to a record high of 8,847,200, and is now 191,700 (or 2.2 per cent) higher than it was a year ago.
Notably, full-time employment comprised 61.5 per cent of total employment growth over the last year.
Part-time employment fell by 11,400 in September but is 119,900 (or 3.0 per cent) higher than it was a year ago.
While the participation rate by 0.1 percentage points to 66.1 per cent in September 2019, it is 0.7 percentage points higher than it was a year ago.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points in September 2019, to 5.2 per cent.
The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, welcomed today’s positive jobs figures, which reflect the Government’s prudent economic policy stance.
“Since the Government came to office in September 2013, a total of 1,467,500 jobs have been created, an increase of 12.8 per cent, but the Government will not be resting on its laurels,” Minister Cash said.
“The Morrison Government’s strong Budget position is facilitating a record infrastructure spend, which will help create tens of thousands of jobs across the country, the most significant tax cuts Australia has seen in more than two decades, which is putting an extra $20 billion into Australian taxpayers’ pockets, as well as a plan to create 80,000 apprenticeships.”
While ABS labour force figures can jump around from month to month, today’s data continue to reflect a strong labour market and highlight the success of the Morrison Government’s efforts to stimulate ongoing, sustainable jobs growth, even in the face of significant global and domestic headwinds.
