12 Jul 2013

Unemployment in Australia now 5.7%

6:01 am on 12 July 2013

The unemployment rate in Australia is now 5.7%.

Estimates issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday show the rate climbed from an upwardly revised 5.6% in May, to 5.7% in June. May's figure was revised up from 5.5%.

The result means the unemployment rate is now at its highest level since September 2009.

The figures show 4400 full-time jobs were lost and 14,800 part-time jobs were created. But the ABC reports the net increase of 10,300 jobs was offset by an rise in the number job-seekers.

The jobless rate has increased in almost every state and territory:

In Victoria, it climbed from 5.4% to 5.8%, in seasonally adjusted terms.

Queensland's jobless rate increased from 5.9% to 6.4%, while in South Australia it climbed from 5.9% to 6%.

Tasmania's unemployment rate jumped from 7.9% to 8.1.

In New South Wales, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell from 5.5% to 5.4%.

Western Australia's rate fell from 4.9% to 4.6%.

The ABC reports the number of young people looking for full-time work climbed to 27.3%, its highest rate in 15 years.