Labour market conditions in South Australia continued to deteriorate in April 2017. Latest estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that total employment in trend terms fell by 0.1 per cent (572 persons) in April, while total unemployment rose by 2.1 per cent (1,278 persons). South Australia’s trend unemployment rate consequently rose from 6.9 per cent in March to 7.0 per cent in April. Seasonally adjusted estimates suggest a more marked deterioration in labour market conditions but are highly volatile and should be treated with caution.

South Australia’s labour market performance was quite disappointing compared to broader national patterns. All states and territories with the exception of the ACT recorded an increase in trend employment in April 2017, while their trend unemployment rate remained steady or fell slightly. The national trend unemployment rate remained stable at 5.8 per cent in April, well below the corresponding South Australian figure.