13 Aug REMPLAN Data Update – Local insights from the latest Unemployment Data (Mar qtr 2020)

We are pleased to advise you that all public-access REMPLAN Economy and Community profiles have now been updated with the latest area-specific unemployment rate data (March quarter 2020). This data has recently been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).

These estimates coincide with the 2019-20 bushfires; and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic started to emerge in March 2020. According to DESE:

 “The COVID-19 pandemic began to have a significant impact on the Australian labour market from mid-March, when non-essential services were shut down and trading restrictions were implemented…COVID-19 did not have a significant impact on either the smoothed or unsmoothed SALM estimates for the March quarter 2020.”

The March quarter unemployment rate was highest in South Australia and Queensland (both 6.3%), followed by Western Australia (6.0%) and Victoria (5.7%). The unemployment rate was lowest in the Australian Capital Territory (3.3%). 

For Australia, the unemployment rate for the March 2020 quarter was 5.6%, an increase of 0.7% from the December 2019 quarter (4.9%). 

The ABS has noted:

“In March 2020, increases in employment were observed in all states and territories, with the largest increases in Queensland (up 4,900 people), Victoria (up 4,000 people) and New South Wales (up 2,300 people).

Over the past year, increases in employment were observed in all states and territories except South Australia (down 500 people). The largest increases were in Victoria (up 74,400 people), Queensland (up 57,800 people), and New South Wales (up 37,100 people). The highest annual employment growth rates were in Australian Capital Territory at 4.9%, followed by Tasmania at 4.4% and the Northern Territory at 3.2%. The annual trend employment growth rates in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and Australian Capital Territory were above their respective 20 year average annual growth rates in trend employment.”

For updated local area unemployment rate estimates, explore our regional profiles. 

The example below is for Parramatta, NSW:

Looking ahead to the next release of ABS and DESE data (June 2020 quarter data) we anticipate that we will see the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market, as well as the responses to associated government restrictions and support packages.

REMPLAN analysis has found that for some industries the negative implications for employment as a result of COVID-19 are broadly proportionate to the changes in revenue.  In other sectors however, most jobs are being retained despite reduced income and this is due, in part, to government assistance programs such as JobKeeper.  Please see our blog which provides JobKeeper hotspot analysis and mapping data for Local Government Areas across Australia.

It is anticipated that the June quarter 2020 unemployment data will be released in late September 2020. 

Please contact the team at REMPLAN if you have any questions regarding this data update. We are also available to provide REMPLAN software training, presentations and management briefings. 

Let’s Talk: 1300 737 443

Kind Regards,
The REMPLAN team