Minister for Employment Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said the labour force figures released today by the ABS reveal that more Australians are now in work than ever before, reflecting the Government’s strong economic credentials and its commitment to creating jobs for all Australians.

 

In positive news as we end 2015, this is now the second consecutive month that Australians have seen a stronger than expected rise in the number of jobs added to the economy.

 

The ABS data shows a continued drop in the unemployment rate from 6.2 per cent to 5.9 per cent in October to now 5.8 per cent in November, as a result of the economy adding 71,400 jobs to reach a record high of 11,900,600.

 

In this calendar year the Australian economy has created 301,700 jobs – the fastest calendar year growth since 1989.

 

In encouraging news, 41,600 full time jobs were added in November to also reach a record high of 8,205,800.

 

Female employment increased by 54,000 in November (the highest monthly increase recorded since April 1986), to stand at a record high of 5,515,200, while the female labour force participation rate also rose strongly, by 0.6 percentage points, to a record high of 59.7 per cent.

 

Minister Cash welcomed today’s positive news, which built on the significant reduction in the unemployment rate from the ABS data announced in October.

 

“The Government has a comprehensive jobs plan and what today’s labour force figures demonstrate is that the positive sentiment we are seeing from consumer and the business community is translating into jobs growth,” Minister Cash said.

 

“The Australian economy is moving in the right direction. Since the Government came to office in September 2013, employment has increased by 425,800, with 344,200 jobs being added to the Australian economy over the last year alone.”

 

“As I have said before, the ABS labour force figures do jump around from month to month, however the underlying trend is now undeniable – jobs growth is strong and continues to deliver real opportunities for Australian job seekers.”

 

While Minister Cash acknowledged there is still work to be done to see a reduction in the youth unemployment rate, youth unemployment has now declined by 2.1 percentage points over the year, to stand at 12.4 per cent in November 2015.

 

“The Government’s strategy to see this reduce further will yield results as we implement our policies in 2016 and beyond,” Minister Cash said.

 

“We are working our way through implementing our policy commitments and the data shows that as we are given the opportunity to implement our agenda we are seeing very strong jobs growth.”

 

“Tellingly, in the last 2 years of the former Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor Governments, just 226,300 jobs were created - in the past two years of the Coalition Government the economy has added double that number – 452,100.”

 

“In the last 12 months, 344,200 jobs have been created which shows that when the Government is given the opportunity to deliver our policies the Australian economy will deliver the jobs that Australians need.”