Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 per cent in November, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 


The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 13,900 to 11,546,400 in November. The increase in employment was driven by increased part-time employment, up 18,100 people to 3,414,200 and was offset by decreased full-time employment, down 4,200 people to 8,132,200. The increase in employment was driven by increased female part-time employment.


The number of people unemployed decreased by 16,300 people to 637,400 in November, the ABS reported.


The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in November, up 1.3 million hours to 1,622.0 million hours.



The ABS reported a seasonally adjusted labour force participation rate decrease of 0.1 percentage point to 65.1 per cent in November. 


The seasonally adjusted underemployment rate was 7.2 per cent in November 2012. Combined with the unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent, the latest estimate of total seasonally adjusted labour force underutilisation was 12.5 per cent in November.


More details are in the November 2012 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0), as well as the upcoming November 2012 issues of Labour Force, Australia, Detailed (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001) and Labour Force, Australia, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003), which are both due for release next week on December 13. These publications are available for free download (after release) from the ABS website - www.abs.gov.au.