More South Australians back in jobs

South Australia’s headline unemployment rate has bucked the national trend, decreasing to 7.9 per cent in July from 8.8 per cent in June.

Nationally, unemployment rose 7.5 per cent in July up from 7.4 per cent in June.

The July ABS Labour Force stats, released today, show South Australia’s participation rate remained unchanged, with the improvement in unemployment being driven entirely by increased full-time employment in the South Australian economy.

Over the last two months there have been over 20,000 South Australians back in jobs.

In addition, an extra 3 million hours were worked in SA in July, the largest percentage increase of the mainland states.

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said growing and sustaining local jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic remains a top priority for the Marshall Liberal Government, which is rolling out a $1 billion economic stimulus package in response.

“We are doing everything in our power to ensure as many local jobs as possible survive through the greatest economic challenge of our time,” said Minister Pisoni.

“Nearly 100,000 jobs have been supported in SA through our $10,000 emergency cash grants, which have benefitted more than 18,700 small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

“We have also announced a record $12.9 billion pipeline of infrastructure works over the next four years to drive jobs and improve economic productivity. More infrastructure will be built in South Australia than in any other four-year period in our state’s history.

“We know there’s more work to be done and today’s stats, while encouraging, reflect the significant ongoing challenge ahead.”

Minister Pisoni noted that recent wage and payroll data had shown a shift in the right direction, with SA recording 2.4 per cent wages growth through the year to June, the country’s equal highest rate (ABS Wages Price Index).

SA is also outperforming many of the other states for jobs growth, recording a 5.2 per cent increase in jobs (from mid-April to late-July) – the third strongest in the nation (ABS Single Touch Payroll Employee Jobs).

SA also recorded the largest rise in business confidence in 13 years in the June quarter, according to Business SA’s Survey of Business Expectations, while SME confidence was the strongest of the mainland states (June quarter, NAB’s Quarterly SME Survey)

Recent positive job announcements also include:

  • Up to 1,800 workers are to be hired by Viterra for the upcoming season’s harvest
  • 1,300 constructions jobs for 18 infrastructure projects across SA
  • 400 jobs created in construction for phase 2 of the Repat Health Precinct; and
  • 300 ongoing defence jobs at Raytheon Australia’s Centre for Joint Integration
  • Among the other key job creating and job sustaining stimulus measures announced by the Marshall Government, as part of its $1 billion stimulus package, are:
  • Investment in nature-based tourism, local government projects through the Planning and Development Fund, country health facilities, social housing and grassroots sports facilities;
  • Cost of Living Concession additional boost payment;
  • Payroll tax relief;
  • Land tax and other financial relief to support tenants and landlords;
  • Support for International Students in South Australia;
  • Support for the Taxi industry and regional and tourist bus operators;
  • Support for local government childcare providers;
  • Waiver of liquor licence fees for 2020-21; and
  • Water relief grants for eligible sporting organisations

“A skilled workforce is critical to our economic recovery,” said Minister Pisoni.

“The impacts of COVID-19 have been significant and further highlight the need for skills delivery to support people into new roles and opportunities.

“We have rebuilt South Australia’s training system to ensure more South Australian’s are able to access high quality training to support them into the modern labour market.

“Under our Skilling South Australia program, SA achieved nation leading growth in paid training through apprenticeship and traineeship commencements.

“The latest national training data for the quarter ending December 2019 shows that SA recorded a 9.3 per cent increase, while every other state recorded a decline, illustrated by a 14.8 per cent decrease nationally.”

/Public News. View in full here.