• Employment rose by 30,900 in August, in line with forecasts centred on job gains of around 29,000. The July result was revised up to show job growth of 25,000 (previously showed a rise of 23,500). Full-time employment rose by 53,100 (July down 9,600) and part-time jobs fell by 22,100 (July rose by 34,700).
• There was no mention of temporary election workers being included in the August data.
• The unemployment rate fell from 5.3 per cent to 5.1 per cent as job growth more than matched new entrants. To two decimal points, the jobless rate fell from 5.31 per cent to 5.12 per cent in August – a 19 month low. The participation rate fell from 65.5 per cent to 65.4 per cent.
• Average hours worked rose for the first time in three months, lifting by 0.9 per cent. Hours worked are up 4.4 per cent over the year. The working age population grew by 32,000 in August.
• Across the states and territories unemployment rates in August were: NSW 5.0 per cent (5.5 per cent in July); Victoria 5.5 per cent (5.5 per cent); Queensland 5.4 per cent (5.6 per cent); South Australia 5.4 per cent (5.1 per cent); Western Australia 4.5 per cent (4.4 per cent); Tasmania 6.0 per cent (6.6 per cent); Northern Territory 3.0 per cent (2.9 per cent); ACT 3.1 per cent (3.2 per cent).

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