Australia’s trend unemployment rate decreased by less than 0.1 percentage points to 5.2 per cent in November 2019, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.

ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said the slight decrease in November had left unemployment at the same level it was six months ago.

“Over the past six months, the trend unemployment rate, participation rate and employment to population ratio have all remained relatively stable,” said Mr Hockman.

Trend monthly employment increased by around 17,000 people for the month, with full-time employment increasing by around 8,000 people and part-time employment increased by around 9,000 people.

Over the past year, trend employment increased by around 269,000 people (2.1 per cent), above the average annual growth over the past 20 years (2.0 per cent). Full-time employment increased at the same rate as the past 20 years (1.6 per cent), and part-time employment (3.2 per cent) was above the average annual growth over the past 20 years (3.0 per cent).

Unemployment remained steady in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory in November 2019. The unemployment rate increased in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and decreased in Tasmania.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said the labour force figures underscored its continued strength and resilience.

“The Government’s Budget position is on track to return to surplus for the first time in 11 years. We are facilitating a record infrastructure spend, which will help create tens of thousands of jobs across the country,” Minister Cash said.

“In addition, the most significant tax cuts Australia has seen in more than two decades is putting an extra $20 billion into Australian taxpayers’ pockets and the Government also has a plan to create 80,000 apprenticeships.”