Key Message

The Territory remains one of the strongest labour markets in Australia.In September 2014, the Territory had the highest labour force participation rate of the jurisdictions at 72.6% and the lowest unemployment rate at 4.3%, overtaking the Australian Capital Territory. Despite some consolidation in employment levels, increased job advertisements highlight continued employment opportunities across the Territory.

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: http://www.dob.nt.gov.au/Employment/labour-market/Pages/default.aspx.

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
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 September 2014, the Territory’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to4.3%, from the previous month’s revised figure. The Territory’s unemployment rate has generally been increasingthroughtout2014.
  • The Territory’s unemployment rate is the lowest of the jurisdictions, followed by the Australian Capital Territory(4.6%).
  • Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.0% in the month from the previous month’s revised figure.

Employment

Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0

  • In September 2014, there were 129250 peopleemployed in the Territory, a decrease of 750from the previous month’s revised figure.
  • The decrease in employment in the Territory in September 2014 was driven by a fall in fulltime employment, which decreased by 1110to 105900 persons and partly offset by an increase in part-time employment by 350 to 23350 persons.
  • Nationally, employment increased by 5600 people to 11604950 persons in September2014.
  • National full-time employment decreased by 6200 to 8038850 persons and part-time employment increased by 11800 to 3566100 persons.

Participation Rate

Source: ABS Cat No 6202.0

  • In September 2014, the Territory’s labour force participation rate decreased by 0.5 of a percentage point to72.6% from the previous month’s revised figure.
  • The Territory has the highest participation rate in Australia (72.6%), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (70.5%) and Western Australia (68.3%).
  • Nationally, the labour force participation rate remained unchanged at64.6% 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 September 2014, the Territory’s labour force decreased by 0.6% to 135100 persons.
  • Nationally, the labour force increased by 0.1% to12350400 persons.

ANZ Newspaper Job Advertisements

Source: ANZ Job Advertisement Series

  • ANZ newspaper job adsin the Territory increased by 1.2% in September2014, the fourteenth consecutive monthly increase.
  • Newspaper job adsincreased equally in Western Australia (0.9%) and Victoria (0.9%), Tasmania (0.3%) and New South Wales (0.2%), butdecreased in all other jurisdictions.
  • Compared to the same period last year,newspaper job ads increased by 32.4%in the Territory and 5.8% in Western Australia, with all other jurisdictions recording declines. The jurisdiction decreases ranged from a 59.1% fall in South Australia to a 4.1% decline in NewSouth Wales.

Apprentices and Trainees

Source: Northern Territory Department of Business

  • In the period 1 January to31 August 2014, there were1903 apprentice and trainee commencements in the Territory, a decrease of 3.0% (59)compared to the same period last year.
  • In the period 1 January to 31 August 2014, there were 729apprentice and trainee completions in the Territory, a decrease of 6.4% (50)compared to the same period last year.
  • As at 31 August2014, there were 3844apprentices 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 (August 2014)

Source: Australian Government Department of Employment

  • In the Territory in August 2014,the internet job vacancies remained unchanged, withincreases and decreases in all occupations.
  • In August2014,internet job vacancies for Clerical and administrative workers reported the largest monthly increase (1.4%), followed by Managers (0.8%) and equal increasesof 0.4% with Community and personal service workers, and Labourers.
  • Growth in the number of internet job vacancies in regional areaswas higher than in Darwinfor all occupations.

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: http://www.dob.nt.gov.au/Employment/labour-market/Pages/default.aspx.

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
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