South Australia’s unemployment rate fell from 7.9 to 7.7 per cent last month in seasonably adjusted terms, while the national jobless rate remained unchanged at 6.2 per cent, new figures show.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures found that the rate had dropped despite there being 8,400 fewer jobs in SA.
This was because of a decline in the number of people looking for work.
The participation rate dropped nationally, with SA recording the biggest decline of 0.8 percentage points.
SA Employment Minister Gail Gago said the state’s aging population was a factor in the low participation rate.
She said the Government was working to shift the state out of its reliance on old economies, such as manufacturing.
“The September figures are not as strong as we would have liked, however, we are still in a position better off than we were at the beginning of this year, so that’s a good position to be in,” she said.
“We recognise the really difficult road ahead for many workers as we transition from the old economy to the new economy.”
SA remains with the highest unemployment rate in the country.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-15/sa-unemployment-rate-falls-due-to-aging-population/6857224