Latest labour force figures for May 2017 released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show South Australia’s labour market continues to perform poorly. The state recorded a slight decline in trend employment of 330 persons in May, while the number of unemployed people rose by 682 persons (1.1 per cent). South Australia’s trend unemployment rate consequently rose by 0.1 per cent to 7.1 per cent for the month.

South Australia’s labour market continues to underperform relative to national outcomes. All other states and territories recorded positive growth in total employment and either an unchanged or decreased rate of unemployment for May 2017. The State’s unemployment rate remains well above the national figure of 5.7 per cent.