Two in three people in Australia are now employed either full-time or part-time, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS found that trend employment increased by about 26,000 people last month compared with May, accounting for 15,000 more full-time workers and 11,000 more part-time workers. 

In other words, there were nearly 13 million people who had employment in June – about nine million worked on a full-time basis while four million were part-timers. 

“Australia's participation rate was at 66 per cent in June 2019, which means nearly two of every three people are currently participating in the labour market,” ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said. 

“The participation rate for 15 to 64 year olds was even higher and closer to four out of every five people,” Mr Hockman added. 

Trend employment rates over the past year were up by 2.6 per cent, which means the average number of employees in Australia rose by 329,000 people since last June. This is above the year-on-year growth of 2.0 per cent over the past 20 years. 

However, trend unemployment rates nationally stayed the same at 5.2 per cent from May to June this year, although the number of unemployed individuals did increase slightly over the month to 701,700 people, up from 697,000 in May. 

Since last June, unemployment rates have fallen in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, but risen in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

But over the month from May to June, unemployment rates largely remained steady, except in Queensland (where it rose) and Western Australia (where it fell). 

Meanwhile, trend underemployment rates stayed consistent at 8.3 per cent during the same period. 

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