Western Australia's workforce has equalled its record best unemployment figures at just 3.1 per cent in November, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Western Australia's workforce has equalled its record best unemployment figures at just 3.1 per cent in November, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The figures equalled the amount recorded in July this year and dropped 0.6 percentage points from the October figure of 3.7 per cent.
Premier Alan Carpenter said 8,400 new jobs were created in November, continuing to reflect the strong demand for skilled workers across the State.
"WA's unemployment figures continued to lead other States, not only recording the lowest unemployment rate for November, but also the highest participation rate of the States at 67.1 per cent," Mr Carpenter said.
WA also saw a marked increase in full-time female employment, while comparatively the male full-time rate declined.
Nationally, the employment rate jumped sharply, leaving the unemployment rate at a 30-year low of 4.6 per cent.
Employment rose by a seasonally adjusted 36,200 in November after a 32,100 drop in the previous month.
Full-time employment increased by 57,400.
Market economists had expected a 10,000 employment increase, and forecast the jobless rate to rise to 4.8 per cent.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics report released today continues a strong run of employment gains this year, which has seen around 250,000 new jobs created.
"The great news is there are more Australians in work than ever before," Treasurer Peter Costello told reporters
"This is extraordinary jobs growth in the Australian economy. We now have about a quarter of a million new jobs in 2006, and about 200,000 jobs since the introduction of Work Choices."
Still the tightness of the labour market does leave open the risk of a further interest rate rise next year, or at least make talk of a cut in rates late next year premature, economists say.
"Ongoing tightness in the labour market suggests that the balance of risks to monetary policy remains tilted in the direction of a further hike," said ANZ senior economist Mark Rodrigues.
The central bank left interest rates unchanged after this week's board meeting, having raised rates in May, August and November.
It will not review rates again until February.
Jobless falls were also recorded in Victoria, 4.7 per cent versus from 4.8 per cent, Tasmania, 6.0 per cent versus 6.4 per cent, and the Northern Territory, 2.8 per cent versus 3.1 per cent.
South Australia suffered the biggest gain in unemployment, rising to 5.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent.
Queensland's jobless rate also rose to 4.3 per cent from 4.0 per cent, while in New South Wales it edged up to 5.2 per cent from 5.1 per cent, while in the Australian Capital Territory it increased to 2.9 per cent from 2.8 per cent.
