A record number of Australians in work

Labour force figures released today by the ABS show employment has increased for the tenth consecutive month, demonstrating a strengthening labour market and highlighting the Government’s strong economic plan.

Today’s figures show:

• Total employment rose by 27,900 in July to a record high of 12,201,400.
• In the past 12 months, 239,300 new jobs have been created, three times as many than Labor’s last year in Government. Of those new jobs, 197,700 were full time.
• In the last seven months, full-time employment has increased by 153,200 – the largest increase in full-time employment over the first seven months of a calendar year since 2008.
• Female employment has increased by 124,600 over the past 12 months to a record high of 5,677,100.
• Youth unemployment has fallen 0.4 percentage points over the past 12 months.

The unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent, down from last month’s revised figure of 5.7 per cent. The annual rate of employment growth of 2 per cent is well above the decade-average rate of 1.6 per cent.

Minister for Employment, Michaelia Cash, said that since the Government came to office in September 2013 more than 730,000 jobs had been created.

"This is the tenth month in a row where there has been an increase in the number of Australians with jobs. Total employment now stands at a record high of 12.2 million,” Minister Cash said.

"Whether it is small business tax relief, record infrastructure investment, investments in defence industry, innovation and science, export agreements or our Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program, all our policies are designed to strengthen our economy and create more jobs.”