Australian unemployment is up 0.3% to 10.7% in May; Under-employment down 0.3% to 7.4%

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Jun-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate rose by 0.3 per cent to 10.7 per cent in May 2016. The number of people in the workforce has fallen by 27,000 to 12,783,000 (although up 293,000 since May 2015), and 11,414,000 Australians are employed (up 213,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has fallen by 74,000 in the last 12 months to 947,000 (7.4 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in April 2016. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says that with the federal election a month away, both sides of politics continue to base their economic modelling on the wrong ABS unemployment data and because of this they will not advocate the correct policy reforms that need to be undertaken to "free-up" the Australian labour market. Stimulating real growth in the economy is the most effective way to create jobs for unemployed and under-employed Australians.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Australian April unemployment is 10.4% for third consecutive year. Under-employment steady at 7.7%

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-May-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate fell by 0.6 per cent to 10.4 per cent in April 2016. The number of people in the workforce has fallen by 134,000 to 12,810,000 (although up 183,000 since April 2015), and 11,476,00 Australians are employed (up 158,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has fallen by 149,000 in the last 12 months to 988,000 (7.7 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in March 2016. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates to a record low 1.75 per cent shows the weakness the overall Australian economy is facing. The ongoing job losses throughout the economy also provide clear evidence that the ABS unemployment figures released monthly lack credibility. ABS estimated unemployment of only 5.7 per cent in March, indicating a booming Australian economy, which is most certainly not reflected in other measures and clearly not believed by the RBA, which is once again cutting interest rates.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, QUEENSLAND NICKEL PTY LTD, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX DSH, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ELECTROLUX PTY LTD

Australian unemployment jumps to 11%

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Apr-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate rose by one per cent to 11 per cent in March 2016. The number of people in the workforce totalled 12,944,000 in March 2016 (up 274,000 since March 2015, but down 230,000, month-on-month), and 11,522,000 Australians are employed (up 220,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, 1,011,000 people (7.8 per cent of the workforce) are under-employed. The official unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in February 2016.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Record number of Australians employed in February as unemployment falls to 10%

Original article by Gary Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Mar-16

The long-running Roy Morgan unemployment estimate shows real Australian unemployment (10.0 per cent) is consistently higher than reported by the ABS (6.0 per cent) – and the higher Roy Morgan unemployment estimate "makes sense" when one considers record low wages growth. The ABS figures released monthly lack credibility. ABS estimated unemployment of 6.0 per cent in January – recognised as a figure close to "full employment". The ABS also reports Australian wage growth at a record low of only 2.2 per cent in 2015. These two figures do not make sense. The economic fact is that when an economy approaches full employment, wages growth throughout the economy accelerates and this causes inflation. This is not happening in Australia, and nor is it happening in the US. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics claims US unemployment of only 4.9 per cent on the most reported measure. However, a broader definition of US unemployment also released by the BLS (called U6) shows real US unemployment of 9.7 per cent. This higher US unemployment estimate is a much closer estimate of the real level of unemployment in the US and very close to Australia’s level of real unemployment. Both businesses and governments in Australia and the US do their economic modelling based on the wrong unemployment data.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, UNITED STATES. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Record number of Australians employed in February as unemployment falls to 10%

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Mar-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate fell from 10.3 per cent to 10 per cent in February 2016. The number of people in the workforce has risen to a record 13,174,000 (up 648,000 since February 2015), and a record 11,855,000 Australians are employed (up 710,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, 1,161,000 people (8.8 per cent of the workforce) are under-employed. The official unemployment rate was four per cent in January 2016.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Rise in jobless to cut interest rates

Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 19-Feb-16

Official data shows that Australia’s unemployment rate rose from 5.8 per cent to six per cent in January 2016. However, the participation rate was steady at 65.2 per cent. Meanwhile, part-time employees now account for a record 31.2 per cent of the workforce. The jobless rate in New South Wales was 0.3 per cent higher at 5.5 per cent, while unemployment in Victoria increased by 0.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent. Tim Toohey of Goldman Sachs says the jobs data will strengthen the case for further interest rate cuts, and he expects two rate cuts in 2016.

CORPORATES
GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

Unemployment rises to 10.3% in January – Under-employment down from record high in December

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 10.3 per cent in January 2016. The number of people in the workforce has risen to a record 13,098,000 (up 471,000 since January 2015), and a record 11,752,000 Australians are employed (up 358,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has risen by 196,000 in the last 12 months to 1,229,000 (9.4 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in December 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says Australia’s outdated industrial relations laws and work practices can only be properly reformed if the "cash economy" is tackled at the same time – otherwise any efforts at IR reform will be of limited benefit, as Government revenue increases will be negligible.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Jobless rate holds steady at 5.8pc, defying predictions

Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 15-Jan-16

Official data shows that Australia’s unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in December 2015, unchanged from November. The jobless rate had blown out to 6.2 per cent in September, before easing to 5.9 per cent in October. Most economists had expected the economy to shed about 10,000 jobs in December, but only 1,000 jobs were lost during the month. Capital Economics’ Paul Dales says the latest jobs data could provide support for the Australian dollar and the local sharemarket.

CORPORATES
CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED,{SPAC}COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ,{SPAC}NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB,{SPAC}COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES LIMITED,{SPAC}RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Unemployment rises to 9.7% in December – Under-employment at record high

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 9.7 per cent in December 2015, compared with 9.2 per cent in November. The number of people in the workforce now totals 13,007,000 (up 106,000 since December 2014), and 11,751,000 Australians are employed (up 252,000 since December 2014). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has risen by 188,000 in the last 12 months, to a record 1,434,000 (11 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in November 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the key point for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition Government as they contemplate when to hold the Federal Election is how to properly manage the Australian economy to ensure growth and provide jobs for the growing workforce. Changing industrial relations laws and work practices can only be effective if the "cash economy" is tackled at the same time – otherwise any efforts at IR reform will be of limited benefit as Government revenue increases will be negligible.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Surprise job boom rules out rate cut

Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 11-Dec-15

Official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the economy added 71,400 jobs in November 2015, while a total of 301,700 jobs have been created since the start of the year. The national unemployment rate has fallen to 5.8 per cent, while the unemployment rate in New South Wales has fallen to 5.2 per cent. Some 127,000 jobs have been created nationwide in the last two months, which may prompt the Reserve Bank to leave the cash rate on hold in February 2016.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES LIMITED, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED