May 2009 Employment Figures

TREND ESTIMATES

EMPLOYMENT

Fell by 1,200 to 10,788,100

UNEMPLOYMENT

Rose by 16,900 to 654,900

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Increased by 0.1% to 5.7%

PARTICIPATION RATE

Remained at 65.5%

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES

EMPLOYMENT

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment fell by 1,700 to 10,793,100.
Full-time employment fell by 26,200 to 7,643,100.
Part-time employment rose by 24,500 to 3,150,000.

UNEMPLOYMENT

The seasonally adjusted total of unemployed rose by 27,200 to 651,200.
The number of people looking for full-time work rose by 30,000 to 482,600.
Number of people looking for part-time work fell by 2,800 to 168,600.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Seasonally adjusted the rate rose by 0.2% to 5.7%

PARTICIPATION RATE

Seasonally adjusted rose by 0.1% to 65.5%.

All details from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

UNION REACTION

The modest decline in unemployment is a positive sign for the Australian economy, according to the ACTU, but more must be done to protect jobs. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said that the Federal Budget should include requirements for businesses and government agencies to maximise jobs through the use of local content.

"Businesses that are recipients of taxpayer money through Government contracts must be required to maximise local jobs and content, and to have in place apprenticeship and training programs," she said.

She welcomed the improvement in April's figures, particularly in full-time employment, but she noted that the unemployment rate was still 1.2% higher than the same time last year, and Australia was not out of the woods yet.

"Today's figures give us confidence that measures taken by the Federal Government to offset the impact of the global economic downturn are having a good effect,” Ms Burrow said.

"Retail trade data this week showed a clear boost in consumer activity that can be directly attributed to the Rudd Government's cash stimulus payments to households.

"Other initiatives taken as part of the Government's $52.7 billion economic stimulus packages will also start to wash through the economy in coming weeks.

"But no-one can relax and saving and creating jobs must remain the number one national priority while the global recession continues to buffet our shores.

"The Federal Budget must contain strong measures for job creation, and include retraining and support for workers made jobless in the downturn.

"We look forward to the Government investing heavily in infrastructure to create jobs in the short term and to improve Australia's productivity for when the economy recovers.

"Further investment in renewable energy is also needed to tackle climate change.

"The Budget should also include further stimulus to safeguard jobs.

"This can be achieved by a national paid maternity leave scheme that will put cash onto kitchen tables and support young families when they need it most," said Ms Burrow.