WA's unemployment rate hits 10-year low

12/10/00
Western Australia's unemployment rate again reached a 10-year low during September, falling to 5.9 per cent from 6.4 per cent in August.
This matches the June 2000 rate and is the best recorded since November 1989.
Employment and Training Minister Mike Board said this encouraging result was made even better by the youth unemployment rate, which fell from 15.3 per cent to 14.7 per cent during September, the best result in the nation.
"Compare this with the teenage unemployment rate of 34.5 per cent recorded in September 1992 when the Opposition was in Government and it is plain to see the stability brought to the economy by the Coalition's employment policies," Mr Board said.
"I am also pleased to see employment reached an all time high last month, with 930,800 people in work - in fact WA was the only State in the nation to experience employment growth.
"Since the Coalition Government took office in February 1993, 190,500 jobs have been created and the general unemployment rate has been almost halved.
"Western Australians can be confident that the policies this Government has created will continue to deliver a healthy economy with strong job opportunities."
Nationally, unemployment fell from 6.4 per cent to 6.3 per cent and teenage unemployment from 19.7 per cent to 18.7 per cent.
Media contact: Tamatha Smith, 9222 9211