SA: Jobless rate rise modest says the SA government

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2009
SA: Jobless rate rise modest says the SA government

ADELAIDE, Dec 10 AAP - A record number of South Australians have jobs despite a modest
rise in unemployment in November, the state government says.

Employment Minister Paul Caica said total employment in trend terms rose by about 1000
last month to 794,600.

The increase came despite the jobless rate rising to 5.5 per cent, up from 5.3 per
cent in October.

Youth unemployment jumped from 26.7 per cent to 29.9 per cent.

Mr Caica said the local economy remained resilient with the state government's major
spending initiatives helping to protect existing jobs and create new ones.

"These major developments are driving our recovery and bringing jobs, investment and
renewed confidence to the SA economy," he said.

"But we still need to remain cautiously optimistic about the level of recovery in the
face of the global financial crisis."

The South Australian opposition said the big jump in youth unemployment revealed their
poor job prospects.

Small business spokesman Iain Evans said the jobless rate among young people had gone
from 19.9 per cent in September to 29.9 per cent in November.

"The increases in October and November mean future employment prospects for young people
in SA look bleak," Mr Evans said.

"The government is providing no vision for SA and no future for young South Australians."

AAP tjd/ash/mn

KEYWORD: JOBS SA

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