Regional labour market statistics - March 2011

The March regional labour force data reveal that employment levels have grown and unemployment rates have fallen across most of Australia. However, for some regions things remain difficult as they struggle to provide enough jobs for their local labour force.

Queensland encapsulated the best and worst of the nation’s labour market outcomes. It recorded the lowest unemployment rate of 2.1 per cent in the West Moreton Statistical Region and the highest at 10.6 per cent in the Far North Statistical Region.

Between March 2010 and March 2011 the biggest improvement in the unemployment rate occurred in the Far West Statistical Division (New South Wales); 20.6 per cent to 6.6 per cent. The biggest deterioration occurred in the Murray-Murrumbidgee Statistical Region; 4.7 per cent to 7.3 per cent. However, the huge fall in the Far West Statistical Division does not look so good when the region’s Labour force participation rate is considered. Between March 2010 and March 2011 the participation rate fell from 52.3 per cent to 44.4 per cent; the lowest labour force participation in the country.

Regional unemployment rates - February 2011

On Thursday 17 March the ABS released the latest regional labour force statistics. These statistics reveal that the unemployment rate around Australia ranged from 1.3 per cent in the South Eastern Statistical Region of New South Wales to 13.0 per cent in the Far North Statistical Region of Queensland.



Five Statistical Regions with the lowest rates were:

• South Eastern Statistical Region (New South Wales) 1.3 per cent


• Eastern Suburbs Statistical Region (Sydney) 2.6 per cent


• East Metropolitan Statistical Region (Perth) 2.6 per cent


• West Moreton Statistical Region (Queensland) 2.8 per cent


• Inner Sydney Statistical Region (Sydney) 3.4 per cent.

Five Statistical Regions with the highest rates were:

• Far North Statistical Region (Queensland) 13.0 per cent


• Northern Adelaide Statistical Region (Adelaide) 9.3 per cent


• South Eastern Melbourne Statistical Region (Melbourne) 8.8 per cent


• Canterbury-Bankstown Statistical Region (Sydney) 8.6 per cent


• Mersey-Lyell Statistical Region Sector (Tasmania) 8.6 per cent.

(Source: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery, Feb 2011, cat. no. 6291.0.55.001 )

Senators and Members can find more details on the small area labour market section of the Parliamentary Library’s intranet site at http://libiis1/Library_Services/electoralatlas/SmallArea.htm

Small area labour market page includes unemployment statistics for:

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  Statistical Regions


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  Statistical Local Areas


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  Commonwealth electoral divisions.