According to the latest information released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia’s trend unemployment rate has increased in July 2019 to 5.3% from 5.2% in June, the same level as this time last year.
In July 2019, trend monthly employment increased by approximately 24,600 persons, with full-time employment increasing by 15,100 persons and part-time employment increasing by 9,600 persons. Over the past year, trend employment increased by 339,200 persons (2.7%) which was above the average annual growth over the past 20 years at 2.0%.
The trend monthly hours worked increased by less than 0.1% in July 2019 and by 1.8% over the past year, slightly above the 20 year average year-on-year growth of 1.7%
Trend monthly underemployment rate remained at 8.4% in July with no changes over the past year whereas trend underutilisation rate decreased by 0.1% over the year.
The trend unemployment rate remained steady in most states and territories, except for South Australia, up 0.2% and both Queensland and the Northern Territory up 0.1%. Over the year, unemployment rates fell in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and increased in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
