June 2018 marked the lowest unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent over the last five years, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Although there were 300,000 people leaving employment in the month, it was made up with 327,000 people entering the work force. 

“Over the year to June, the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points. This continues a gradual decrease in the trend unemployment rate from late 2014 and is the lowest rate since January 2013,” the Chief Economist for the ABS, Bruce Hockman said. 

In comparison, the trend employment increased by around 27,000 persons in June 2018. The full-time and part-time employment numbers was evenly split, with both employment increasing by 13,000 persons. 

Moreover, the trend employment increased by 2.6 per cent from year to date, making up 318,000 persons. 

High growth rate came from the 15 to 19 year age group, with a contribution of a third of the trend employment growth from year to date. It also increased by over 6,000 in June 2018 alone. 

Further, the trend monthly hours worked in June 2018 increased by 0.2 per cent, making up 3.4 million hours. 

In addition, New South Wales saw the strongest growth in trend employment over the past year with 3.7 per cent, with Australian Capital Territory following at 2.9 per cent and Queensland at 2.6 per cent.