Tracking Queensland’s long term unemployment rate.
Queensland’s unemployment has risen from 5.5 per cent when the Newman Government came to power to a high of 6.3pc.
In 2012, Queensland recorded “the steepest rise in unemployment in the state since Australian Bureau of Statistics records began in 1978”.
At latest report, 15,414 Queensland public servants have lost their jobs under the Newman Government at a rate of nine per day.
Queensland’s highest youth unemployment region is Cairns with an unmatched 20pc. The Brotherhood of St Laurence recently conducted a nationwide study into youth unemployment and flagged it as being at crisis point.
Below is the long term data reflected in graphical form. All data is based on ‘Labour force’ from Queensland Treasury and Trade.
All regional data comes from ‘Regional labour force’ from Queensland Treasury and Trade.
Politicians frequently switch between trend and seasonally adjusted data based on which is more favourable to them. As reflected below, seasonally adjusted data tends to be more erratic than trend.
The acronyms FTE and PTE refer to full-time employment and part-time employment respectively.
Unemployment by region
This graph shows the worst unemployment regions of Queensland. The three worst areas include, Morton Bay – North which rose 2.3pc to 9.2pc, Ipswich rose 1.9pc to 9.0pc and Wide Bay rose 0.6pc to 8.7pc.
Unemployment rate by region
With the regional average unemployment at 6pc, all of the following remain above the norm; Morton Bay – North 9.2pc, Ipswich 9.0pc, Wide Bay at 8.7pc, Cairns at 8.2pc, Sunshine Coast 6.6pc, Townsville 6.7pc and Logan – Beaudesert 6.6pc.
Annual change in employment by region
The Logan – Beaudesert region lost 11,400 FTE & 3,100 PTE for a total loss of 14,400 jobs for May whilst unemployment remained at 6.6{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3}.
Wide Bay region lost 4,300 FTE and lost 4,800 PTE for total loss of 9,100 jobs whilst unemployment rose 0.1pc to 8.7pc.
Cairns region lost 6,800 FTE and lost 1,300 PTE for a total loss of 8,100 jobs for May whilst unemployment rose 0.1pc to 8.2pc.
Townsville lost 5,600 FTE and lost 2,500 PTE for a total loss of 8,100 jobs in May whilst unemployment rose to 6.7pc.
Queensland’s trend unemployment rate: 6.3 per cent.
In trend terms, there was a 0.2pc rise in FTE and a 0.5pc rise in PTE. Unemployment rise for a revised down figure of 6.2pc to 6.3pc.
Queensland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate: 6.2 per cent.
In seasonally adjusted terms, FTE rose by 1.1pc but PTE fell by 2.2pc. Unemployment rate fell from 6.3pc to 6.2pc.
Employment growth, trend, monthly {17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} change.
Supplied graph from Queensland Treasury and Trade.
Trend Queensland job creation; FTE & PTE to total jobs.
In trend terms, Queensland gained 3,200 FTE and gained 3,600 PTE for a total of 6,800 jobs for May.
Seasonally adjusted Queensland job creation; FTE & PTE to total jobs.
In seasonally adjusted terms, Qld gained 18,000 FTE but lost 15,800 PTE for a total of 2,400 jobs for May.
Trend Queensland participation rate versus Australian participation rate.
A slight rise in trend participation rate, up from 66.4pc to 66.3pc. Australia’s trend participation rate remained the same at 64.7pc.
Seasonally adjusted Queensland participation rate versus Australian participation rate.
Seasonally adjusted, the participation rate fell from 66.5pc to 66.3pc. Australia’s also fell slightly from 64.6pc to 64.7pc.
Trend Queensland labour force to Australian labour force.
In terms of trend Labour force Australia rose by 10,900 persons and Queensland by 8,200 persons.