South Australia’s headline unemployment rate has increased in line with a 0.7 increase in the national rate from 7.2 per cent in April to 7.9 in May, while WA sits at 8.1 per cent and Queensland at 7.9 per cent.
Full time employment in SA has gone up 2,200 from April to May, while total hours worked has increased by 341,100 hours in May compared to April. This is on the back of SEEK’s latest Employment Report which shows a 52.4 per cent increase in job ads in SA, the highest percentage increase in the nation.
“This is the greatest economic challenge of our time, which is why the Marshall Liberal Government is responding swiftly and decisively to ensure as many businesses and jobs as possible make it through to the other side,” Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said.
“We are continuing to implement our strong plan to deal with the pandemic, as we look to get as many infrastructure projects as possible underway as quickly as possible, as well as deliver hip pocket relief through cheaper water bills."
The State Government’s comprehensive $1 billion economic response and stimulus measures to assist with the preservation and creation of jobs, include:
- Immediate economic stimulus package worth $350 million to drive the economy through job-creating infrastructure projects
- $300 million Business and Jobs Support Fund and $250 million Community and Jobs Support Fund
- Payroll tax relief – up to $60 million of savings to businesses
- Land tax relief – up to $13 million of additional savings
- Skills for Business Package – including up to $5,000 boost when hiring an apprentice
- $16 million VET Market Continuity Package
- Mentoring support for startups and scaleups
“We know that businesses in SA are continuing to do it tough, through no fault of their own, and we must continue to do everything possible to ensure we get through to the other side.
“The State Government is also continuing to deliver strong results through our Skilling South Australia program, as evidenced through the release last week of the latest national training data from the NCVER which shows SA again recording nation leading growth in apprentices and trainees."
Recent positive job announcement for SA include:
- 1,000 construction jobs on the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy cancer treatment
- More than 750 construction jobs on the GFG Cultana solar farm in Whyalla
- More than 400 jobs to rebuild and rejuvenate Kangaroo Island tourism
50 jobs at DXC Technology, including senior software developers and engineers.
