FED: Aust jobless rate climbs back up to 8 pct = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1998
FED: Aust jobless rate climbs back up to 8 pct = 3

Employment Minister Peter Reith said todays figures confirmed the volatile nature of
monthly labour market data.

"The answer to Australias unemployment lies in having a flexible labour market and a
dynamic economy," he said in a statement.

"The government is determined to create an environment where jobs can be generated."

He said the ABS data reflected unusual volatility in New South Wales and this was a
significant factor in this months results.

The unemployment rate jumped to 7.8 per cent in NSW, seasonally adjusted, from 6.7 per cent
in October.

The rate was stable in Victoria at 7.8 per cent, but rose in South Australia to 9.8 per
cent (from 9.2 per cent) and Western Australia, to 7.1 per cent from 7 per cent.

The rate fell in Tasmania, to 9.8 per cent from 10.6 per cent, and Queensland, to 8.2 per
cent from 8.8 per cent.

Comparable data for the ACT and the Northern Territory is not published.

Mr Reith said in trend terms, the nations jobless rate had fallen to 7.9 per cent in
November - and that this was the lowest level since November 1990.

He pointed to the youth unemployment rate, which continued to fall, down to 26.9 per cent
in November from 27 per cent a month earlier.

AAP ear/mfh/bwl/de

KEYWORD: JOBS 3 CANBERRA

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