Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Unemployment Figures Unemployment Figures The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council Unemployment Figures The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:01): My question is directed to the Leader of the Government. Given the unemployment figures announced last Thursday of 7.6 per cent in South Australia, will the minister explain how she made the statement quoted in The Advertiser that 'one part of those figures in relation to participation rates may indicate an increased level of confidence in the state's job market'? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers Unemployment Figures The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I can say that quite confidently because the participation rate increased for South Australia for two months in a row. I think in the last month, the most recent figures for May, we were the only jurisdiction where participation rates increased, which is a very positive sign, particularly two months in a row. The increased participation rate generally means that there are more people working and also more people out there looking for work. So, although that resulted in a very disappointing increase in our overall unemployment rates, nevertheless it is a positive sign. If more people are out looking for work it generally means that they have the confidence that jobs are available for them.