Answers to Questions

Unemployment

In reply to the Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (3 May 2022).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Treasurer has advised:

According to the latest data available, in April 2022, the first full month of the Malinauskas Labor government, South Australia's unemployment rate was 4.5 per cent. This is a fall from the rate as reported at the recent election of 4.9 per cent. This was the highest rate in the nation, a persistent statistic in the latter part of the previous Liberal government.

In March 2018, this rate was 5.6 per cent (which at that time was lower than the unemployment rate in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania).

For future reference, these statistics are publicly available in the monthly Labour Force data published on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website www.abs.gov.au.

The Malinauskas Labor government is committed to a range of policies to support the economy and job creation in South Australia as articulated in the state budget released on 2 June 2022. Key commitments include a range of projects under construction and in the pipeline across the entire state, including the Hydrogen Jobs Plan, and a new Economic Recovery Fund.

The government has not adopted a specific target for the number of jobs to be created, similar to the approach of the previous Liberal government. However, we note the increase in business confidence metrics already shown and continuing strong economic conditions since the election.