Seasonally adjusted employment rose by 111,000 (0.9 per cent) between July and August, while hours worked increased by a more modest 0.1 per cent. Unemployment decreased by around 87,000 people, with some 55,000 of them women.
The unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 per cent to 6.8 per cent, while underemployment remained stubbornly high at 11.2 per cent – 2.4 per cent above March.
“Employment rose almost 1 per cent but hours worked rose by a more modest 0.1 per cent,” said ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis.
“Hours fell by 4.8 per cent in Victoria, compared to a 1.8 per cent increase across the rest of Australia. The weaker increase in hours worked has also been reflected in the strength of the increase in part-time employment between May and August, which has been almost eight times greater than the increase in full-time employment.”
However, employment in Victoria was hit hardest, decreasing by 42, 400 people as the unemployment rate hit 7.1 per cent.
