South Australia’s headline unemployment rate has increased to 7.2 per cent in April up from 6.3 per cent in March, in the first ABS Labour Force survey to take into account the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The national rate also increased by one percentage point.
The ABS has suspended trend estimates from April in the Labour Force Survey until more certainty emerges in the underlying trend in labour market activity over the COVID-19 pandemic period.
These results are unlikely to fully reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market due to the implementation of the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper payments, the timing of the survey in the first half of April, and a large drop in the participation rate from 62.9 per cent down to 60.4 per cent.
“This is the greatest economic challenge of our time, which is why the Marshall Liberal Government is responding swiftly and decisively to ensure as many businesses and jobs as possible make it through to the other side,” Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said.
“Today we’ve launched a one-stop shop for small businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent bushfires – the SA Small Business Hub website is full of information and support to help businesses rebuild and recover.
“Small business is the backbone of the South Australian economy and is a huge employer, and that’s why we will do everything in our power to support as many businesses as possible to get through to the other side, and in turn, preserve as many jobs as possible.
“We’ve already seen huge interest in the $10,000 emergency cash grants from the State Government with many local businesses already receiving the emergency support payment.
“This is part of the Marshall Government’s strong plan to deal with the pandemic, as we look to get these emergency cash payments out the door as quickly as possible.”
The State Government’s comprehensive $1 billion economic response and stimulus measures to assist with the preservation and creation of jobs, include:
- Immediate economic stimulus package worth $350 million to drive the economy through job-creating infrastructure projects
- $300 million Business and Jobs Support Fund and $250 million Community and Jobs Support Fund
- Payroll tax relief – up to $60 million of savings to businesses
- Land tax relief – up to $13 million of additional savings
- Skills for Business Package – including up to $5,000 boost when hiring an apprentice
- $16 million VET Market Continuity Package
- Mentoring support for startups and scaleups
“We know that businesses in SA are continuing to do it tough at the moment, through no fault of their own, but we’re all in this together and we must continue to do everything possible to ensure we get through to the other side.”
Recent positive job announcement for SA include:
- 2,000 construction jobs on new SA government building in the CBD
- Over 1,000 construction jobs on new school builds at Aldinga, Angle Vale and Whyalla
- Around 120 construction jobs on two North-Eastern Adelaide sports facilities
- 38 production jobs at Robern Menz to produce the Polly Waffle
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