Posted on: 19 May 2023
South Australia has today earnt the unenviable title of having the worst unemployment rate in the country – skyrocketing to a worrying 4.3 per cent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted figure for April eclipses the national figure of 3.7 per cent, as well as other states and territories - with Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria at 3.9 per cent and WA at 3.6 per cent.
|
ACT |
3.0% |
|
NSW |
3.4% |
|
NT |
3.4% |
|
WA |
3.6% |
|
QLD |
3.9% |
|
TAS |
3.9% |
|
VIC |
3.9% |
|
SA |
4.3% |
SA also experienced the biggest jump in its unemployment rate in the nation – with a 0.6 per cent spike up from 3.7 per cent – representing a further 5,400 South Australians finding themselves jobless.
The unwelcome news comes as cost of living in Adelaide explodes, with the highest inflation level of all the capital cities at 7.9 per cent – well ahead of Brisbane at 7.4 per cent and Sydney at 7.3 per cent.
Shadow Treasurer, Matt Cowdrey, said it is troubling news for South Australians.
“Under Peter Malinauskas and Labor, not only is South Australia becoming the most expensive place to live but the hardest place in the country to find a job,” Mr Cowdrey said.
“Having the highest unemployment and inflation rates in the nation is not something to be proud of, but Peter Malinauskas and Stephen Mullighan keep pretending everything’s fine.
“It’s a huge blow to the state to have an extra 5,400 South Australians joining the unemployment queue – especially during a cost of living crisis, where the everyday family is $17,000 worse off under the Malinauskas Labor Government.
“Today’s alarming announcement should act as a wake-up call for Peter Malinauskas, who needs to face the economic reality and announce how he plans on turning this all around.”