November 12, 2009
Embargo: 11.30 am (AEDT) 12/11/2009
83/2009
Australia's unemployment rate at 5.8 per cent in October 2009: ABS
Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in October, according to the
latest Labour Force figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The seasonally
adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in September.
The number of people employed increased by 24,500 to 10.832 million (seasonally adjusted) the
ABS reported. The rise in employment was driven by an increase in part-time employment, up
21,500 to 3.241 million with full-time employment increasing 2,900 to 7.591 million persons.
The number of people unemployed increased by 11,100 in October, standing at 670,100, the
highest level since January 2002 according to the ABS.
The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a fall in October,
down 1.9 million hours (to 1,521.1 million hours) from September.
The ABS participation rate was unchanged in October at 65.2 per cent.
More details are available in the October 2009 release of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)
Media notes:
When using our statistics, please cite the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the
source.
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