The unemployment rate in Western Australia fell by 1 per cent in February, as 11,000 people stopped looking for work.
The unemployment rate in Western Australia fell by 1 per cent in February, as 11,000 people stopped looking for work.
The latest seasonally adjusted figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the state’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.9 per cent in January to 5.9 per cent in February.
WA’s unemployment rate in January represented a 17-year high.
However, the seasonally adjusted participation rate fell in February from 68.4 per cent to 67.8 per cent.
In total, around 2,800 jobs were created in the state.
The unemployment rate for those looking for part-time work dropped by 2.2 per cent, to reach 4.8 per cent.
There was a smaller unemployment rate decrease regarding those looking for full-time work, with a fall of 0.4 per cent, to sit at 7.2 per cent.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief economist Rick Newnham was not optimistic about the latest figures.
"Despite WA’s unemployment rate falling to 5.9 per cent in February, down from 6.9 per cent, WA still retains the unenviable position of having the second highest unemployment rate in the country,” Mr Newnham said.
“Even though unemployment has decreased by 1 per cent over the month, 0.8 per cent of that fall is because 11,000 people have stopped looking for work in WA.
“Youth unemployment also remains the second highest in the country at 15.2 per cent, equal to South Australia, which means over 33,000 young Western Australians who want a job are unable to find one.”
On a national level, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was recorded at 4.9 per cent, a marginal fall of 0.1 per cent.
However, it marked the first time Australia’s unemployment rate has dropped below 5 per cent since 2011.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell in every state, except for Victoria and NSW.
Nationally, the participation rate fell from 65.7 per cent to 65.6 per cent.
Commsec senior economist Ryan Felsman said the results were mixed.
“Underneath the bonnet, there was some weakness (as) the participation rate fell a little,” he said.
“A positive development was that unemployment fell in the mining states of Queensland and WA.”