Australia’s trend unemployment remained steady at 5.0 per cent in March 2019, according to the new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

“In trend terms, we’ve now seen the unemployment rate at 5.0 per cent for five months and the participation rate holding steady at 65.6 per cent,” ABS Labour Statistics Program Manager Bjorn Jarvis said.

In the trend monthly employment figures for March 2019, overall employment numbers increased by around 21,000 persons. Full-time employment made up 18,000 persons and part-time employment 3,000 persons. 

The number of trend employment increased by 299,000 persons in the past year, making up 2.4 per cent. This was above the average annual growth over the past 20 years of 2.0 per cent. 

The trend monthly hours worked also increased by 0.2 per cent in March 2019, contributing to the 2.4 per cent growth over the past year. This was above the 20-year average year-on-year growth of 1.7 per cent. 

The trend monthly unemployment rate was steady in states including New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 

The unemployment rate decreased in Northern Territory and Queensland by 0.2 per cent and less than 0.1 per cent respectively. However, it increased by 0.1 per cent in both Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory. 

In addition, the trend monthly underemployment rate remained steady at 8.2 per cent in March 2019 and decreased by 0.4 per cent over the year. 

Underutilisation rate also remained steady at 13.2 per cent in March and decreased by 0.9 per cent over the year.