Western Australia's unemployment rate decreased from 4.2 per cent to 4.1 per cent between February and March 2006. This saw WA maintain the lowest rate of unemployment of all states for the eighth consecutive month. The number of unemployed persons in WA decreased by 2.1 per cent (or 1,000 persons) between February and March, while employment increased by 0.8 per cent (or 8,000) to 1.07 million. Employment in WA is up by 3.4 per cent over the year to March, with full-time employment up by 3.2 per cent over this period, while part-time employment is up by 3.7 per cent. The participation rate in WA reached a new record high in March, with 68.1 per cent of the state's adult population engaged in the labour force during the month.
Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.2 per cent to 5.0 per cent between February and March 2006. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 3.5 per cent (or 19,200) between February and March, while employment increased by 0.3 per cent (or 27,100) to 10.1 million. National employment is up by 1.5 per cent over the year to March. Queensland recorded the strongest jobs growth in March with 14,900 new positions, followed by Western Australia (8,000). The national participation rate remained unchanged at 64.4 per cent in March, close to its record high of 64.5 per cent.
| Data Summary | ||||
| Rate In: | ||||
| Unemployment Rates | Period | Mar 06 | Feb 06 | Mar 05 |
| Western Australia | Mar 06 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 5.0% |
| Australia | Mar 06 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| % Change Since: | ||||
| Employment | Period | Number | Feb 06 | Mar 05 |
| Western Australia | Mar 06 | 1,065,900 | 0.8% | 3.4% |
Australia |
Mar 06 | 10,085,300 | 0.3% | 1.5% |
