Key Message

The Territory remains one of the strongest labour market in Australia. In June 2014, the labour force participation rate was75.7%, the all-timehighest rate on record for all jurisdictions. The unemployment rate was the second lowest of the jurisdictions.The number of employed persons in the Territory is also at an all-time record high and increasing job advertisements and vacancies indicate further short-term employment growth.

Notes

All data referred to in the brief are in trend terms, except for the apprentice andtrainee data, which are in original terms.

Current labour market briefs are available online at:

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:

Data Sources

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catalogue Number 6202.0
ANZ Banking Corporation Limited, Job Advertisement Series
Australian Government Department of Employment, Vacancy Report

Northern Territory Government 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 June 2014, the Territory’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point to3.9%, from the previous month’s revised figure. The Territory’s unemployment rate has gradually decreasedover the past year.
  • The Territory’s unemployment rate is the second lowest of the jurisdictions, after the Australian Capital Territory(3.6%).
  • Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at5.9% in the month from the previous month’s revised figure.

Employment

Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0

  • In June 2014, there were 134300 peopleemployed in the Territory, an increase of 200from the previous month’s revised figure.
  • The increase in employment in the Territory in June 2014 was driven by a rise in fulltime employment, which increased by 400to 112200 persons and partly offset by a decrease in part-time employment by 200 to 22100 persons.
  • Nationally, employment increased by 10600 (0.1%) people to 11582400 persons in June2014.
  • Full-time employment increased by 10300 to 8069300 and part-time employment increased by 400 to 3513100 persons.

Participation Rate

Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0

  • In June 2014, the Territory’s labour force participation rate was unchanged at75.7% from the previous month’s revised figure.
  • The Territory has the highest participation rate in Australia (75.7%), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (70.8%) and Western Australia (68.3%).
  • Nationally, the labour force participation rate remained unchanged at64.7% 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 June 2014, the Territory’s labour force increased by 0.2% to 139800 persons.
  • Nationally, the labour force increased by 0.1% to12310900 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 adsin the Territory increased by 0.4% in June2014, the eleventh consecutive increase since July 2013.
  • Newspaper job adsincreased inWestern Australia (0.9%),Queensland(0.6%), and in New South Wales (0.3%), while it decreased in all other jurisdictions.
  • Compared to the same period last year,newspaper job ads in the Territory increased by 18.5%, with all other jurisdictions recording declines except for New South Wales (up by 1.4%). The jurisdiction decreases ranged from a 34.4% fall in the Australian Capital Territory to a 6.7% decline in Western Australia.

Apprentices and Trainees

Source: Northern Territory Department of Business

  • In the period 1 January to31 May 2014, there were1347 apprentice and trainee commencements in the Territory, a decrease of 4.3% (61)compared to the same period last year.
  • In the period 1 January to 31 May 2014, there were 450apprentice and trainee completions in the Territory, a decrease of 4.1% (19)compared to the same period last year.
  • As at 31 May2014, there were 3957apprentices 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. Furthermore, a recent change in Commonwealth incentive payments for apprentices and trainees has noticeably reduced commencements.

Internet Job Vacancies (May 2014)

Source: Australian Government Department of Employment

  • In the Territory in May 2014, totalinternet job vacancies increased by 0.5%, with increases in all occupations except for Sales workers, Labourers, Professionals and Managers.
  • In May2014,internet job vacancies for Technicians and trade workers reported the largest monthly increase (2.1%), followed byCommunity and personal service workers, and Machinery operators and drivers and Clerical and administrative workers.
  • Growth in the number of internet job vacancies in Darwin was higher than in regional areas for all occupations except Clerical and administrative workers, Community and personal service workers, Technician and trade workers, and Machinery operators and drivers.

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 andtrainee data, which are in original terms.

Current labour market briefs are available online at:

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:

Data Sources

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catalogue Number 6202.0
ANZ Banking Corporation Limited, Job Advertisement Series
Australian Government Department of Employment, Vacancy Report

Northern Territory Government 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