In Australia, monthly trend full-time employment increased for the 14th straight month in November 2017. Full-time employment grew by a further 15,000 persons in November, while part-time employment increased by 7,000 persons, underpinning a total increase in employment of 22,000 persons.
"Full-time employment has now increased by around 308,000 persons since November 2016, and makes up the majority of the 371,000 net increase in employment over the period," the Chief Economist for the ABS, Bruce Hockman, said.
Over the past year, trend employment increased by 3.1 per cent, which is above the average year-on-year growth over the past 20 years (1.9 per cent).
The trend monthly hours worked increased by 3.8 million hours (0.2 per cent), with the annual figure also reflecting strong growth (3.4 per cent).
The labour force participation rate increased to 65.4 per cent, the highest it has been since October 2011. The female labour force participation also increased, to a further historical high of 60.1 per cent.
Unemployment and Underemployment
The monthly trend unemployment rate remained steady at 5.4 per cent in November 2017. The last time the trend unemployment rate was lower was in January 2013.
The quarterly trend underemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 8.4 per cent over the quarter to November 2017.
"Over the course of 2017 the underemployment rate has fallen from an historical high of 8.7 per cent in February to 8.4 per cent in November, its lowest point in almost two years," Mr Hockman said.
The quarterly trend underutilisation rate, which includes both unemployment and underemployment, decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 13.8 per cent.
Seasonally adjusted data The seasonally adjusted number of persons employed increased by 62,000 in November 2017. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 5.4 per cent and the labour force participation rate increased to 65.5 per cent.
More details are in the November 2017 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0). In addition, These publications are available for free download (after release) from the ABS website: http://www.abs.gov.au.
