January 14, 2010
Embargo: 11.30 am (AEDT)
03/2010
Australia's unemployment rate at 5.5 per cent in December 2009: ABS
The Australian unemployment rate was at 5.5 per cent in December, the Australian Bureau of
Statistics announced today. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 per cent, from the
revised 5.6 per cent in November.
The number of people employed in December increased by 35,200 to 10.906 million, seasonally
adjusted, the ABS reported, driven by a rise in part-time employment, up 27,900 persons to 3.271
million together with a rise in full-time employment, up 7,300 persons to 7.635 million.
The ABS also reported the number of people unemployed decreased by 10,600 in December to
639,400.
The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a slight fall in
December, down 1.0 million hours to 1,535.6 million hours.
The ABS participation rate in December remained at 65.2 per cent.
More details are available in the December 2009 release of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no.
Media Note: When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics
(or ABS) as the source.
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