Key Message
The Territory labour market is buoyant despite ongoing weakness nationally. Employment continues to strengthen while the number of unemployed persons has decreased by 30% in the last six months. The labour force participation rate is the highest in Australia, indicating more people are increasingly confident in gaining a job in the Territory. The short term outlook remains positive with newspaper job advertisements increasing in the month suggesting ongoing employment growth.
Notes
All data referred to in the brief are in trend terms, except for the apprentice and trainee data, which are in original terms.
For information on the data sources used and a glossary of labour market terms please see Labour Market Terms and Information.
Please note that changes to geographical standards and population re-benchmarking have resulted in revisions to labour market estimates. For further information please go to: http://www.abs.gov.au/
Data Sources
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catalogue Number 6202.0
ANZ Banking Corporation Limited, Job Advertisement Series
Department of Employment, Vacancy Report
Department of Business
Enquiries
Employment Research and Strategy, Department of Business
Email:
Disclaimer
The Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty of assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this publication, or that it is suitable for your intended use. You should not rely upon information in this publication for the purpose of making any serious business or investment decisions without obtaining independent, professional advice in relation to your particular situation.
Department of Business
Unemployment Rate
Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0
· In January 2014, the Territory’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.3percentage points to 4.0%, from a revised 4.3% in the previous month. The Territory’s unemployment rate has decreased over the past six months.
· The Territory unemployment rate was second lowest of the jurisdictions behind the Australian Capital Territory (3.8%).
· Nationally, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.9% in the month from the previous month’s revised figure.
Employment
Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0
· In January 2014, there were 130400 persons employed in the Territory, an increase of 400 persons from the previous month’s revised figure.
· The increase in employment in the Territory in January 2014 was driven by a rise in fulltime employment, which increased by 300 to 106000 persons and an increase in part-time employment by 100 to 24400 persons.
· Nationally, employment was relatively unchanged at 11466 900 persons in January2014.
· Full-time employment decreased by 9600 to 7959200 persons and part-time employment increased by 8100 to 3507 600 persons.
Participation Rate
Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0
· In January 2014, the Territory’s labour force participation rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 74.6%.
· The Territory has the highest participation rate in Australia (74.6%), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (71.3%) and Western Australia (68.2%).
· Nationally, the labour force participation rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 64.5% from the previous month’s revised figure.
Chart 1: Unemployment and Participation Rates
Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0
Labour Force
Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0
· In January 2014, the Territory’s labour force remained unchanged at 135800 persons.
· Nationally the labour force was unchanged at 12184 600 persons.
· The Territory’s labour force has been increasing steadily over the past year, reflecting a growing civilian population and increasing confidence in the Territory economy.
ANZ Newspaper Job Advertisements
Source: ANZ Job Advertisement Series
· ANZ newspaper job ads in the Territory increased by 2.7% in January 2014, the sixth consecutive monthly increase.
· Newspaper job ads also increased in the Australian Capital Territory (4.2%), Western Australia(0.7%), and New South Wales (0.2%) during the month and decreased in South Australia (4.0%), Queensland(2.4%), Tasmania (0.7%) and Victoria (0.2%) in the month.
· Compared to the same period last year, newspaper job ads in the Territory decreased by 0.7%, with all other jurisdictions also recording declines, ranging from a 39.4% fall in the Victoria to a 13.0% decline in New South Wales.
Apprentices and Trainees
Source: Department of Business
· In 2013, there were 2397 apprentice and trainee commencements, a decrease of 539 compared to 2012.
· In 2013, there were 1093 apprentice and trainee completions, a decrease of 141 compared to 2012.
· As at 31 December 2013, there were 3722 apprentices and trainees in training.
· Training commencements have a natural lag in contracts being registered (up to 6 months after the commencement date) and are subject to future revisions. Further, a recent change in Commonwealth incentive payments for apprentices and trainees has noticeably reduced commencements.
Internet Job Vacancies (December)
Source: Department of Employment (Australian Government)
· In the Territory, total internet job vacancies decreased by 2.8% in December 2013, with all occupation groups reporting declines in the month.
· In December 2013, internet job vacancies for Community and Personal Service Workers reported the largest decline, followed by Machinery operators and drivers, and Labourers.
· Growth in the number of internet job vacancies in regional areas of the Territory performed better than Darwin for all occupations except for Clerical and administrative workers, and Technicians and trade workers.
· Overall, internet job vacancies in regional areas of the Territory have outperformed Darwin over the past three consecutive months.
Chart 2: Northern Territory Job Vacancies
Source: Department of Employment (Australian Government)
Notes
All data referred to in the brief are in trend terms, except for the apprentice and trainee data, which are in original terms.
For information on the data sources used and a glossary of labour market terms please see Labour Market Terms and Information.
Please note that changes to geographical standards and population re-benchmarking have resulted in revisions to labour market estimates. For further information please go to: http://www.abs.gov.au/
Data Sources
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catalogue Number 6202.0
ANZ Banking Corporation Limited, Job Advertisement Series
Department of Employment, Vacancy Report
Department of Business
Enquiries
Employment Research and Strategy, Department of Business
Email:
Disclaimer
The Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty of assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this publication, or that it is suitable for your intended use. You should not rely upon information in this publication for the purpose of making any serious business or investment decisions without obtaining independent, professional advice in relation to your particular situation.
Department of Business