February 11, 2010
Embargo: 11.30 am (CANBERRA
TIME) 11/02/2010
12/2010
Australia's unemployment rate at 5.3 per cent in January 2010: ABS
The Australian unemployment rate was at 5.3 per cent in January, as announced by the Australian
Bureau of Statistics today. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points,
from December 2009.
The number of people employed in January increased by 52,700 to 10.966 million, seasonally
adjusted, the ABS reported. This is the largest rise in employment since December 2006. The rise
in employment was driven by a rise in part-time employment, up 36,900 persons to 3.314 million
together with a rise in full-time employment, up 15,900 persons to 7.652 million.
For the third consecutive month, the ABS reported the number of people unemployed had
decreased, down 22,300 persons to 612,000 in January.
The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a fall in January,
down 14.8 million hours to 1,518.1 million hours.
The ABS participation rate in January remained at 65.3 per cent.
More details are available in the January 2010 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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