Unemployment price holds regular in December

The unemployment price held regular at 3.9% in December, in seasonally adjusted phrases, regardless of a decline of 65,000 in employment and a modest fall of 1,000 within the variety of unemployed people, in keeping with the most recent ABS information.

“The autumn in employment in December adopted larger-than-usual employment development in October and November, a mixed enhance of 117,000 folks, with the employment-to-population ratio and participation price each at file highs in November,” mentioned David Taylor, ABS head of labour statistics.

Nevertheless, the December figures mirrored a correction after the surge. The seasonally adjusted participation price dropped 0.4 share factors to 66.8%, returning to ranges seen in September, whereas the employment-to-population ratio slid to 64.2%, the bottom since Might 2022 however nonetheless 1.9 share factors greater than March 2020.

“The energy in employment in October and November and the autumn in December, mirrored modifications within the timing of employment development in the previous few months of 2023, in contrast with earlier years,” Taylor mentioned in a media launch.

“Whereas the December employment fall was massive, the variety of employed folks was nonetheless 52,000 greater than September. Trying over the previous twelve months, seasonally adjusted employment elevated by a mean of 32,000 folks per 30 days, exhibiting fairly sturdy underlying development throughout 2023.”

Each unemployment and underemployment charges stayed at comparatively low ranges, whereas the participation price and employment-to-population ratio remained excessive, indicating a persistently tight labour market, Taylor mentioned.

Key metrics and developments

• Employment and hours labored each declined by 0.5% in December
• Annual development in hours labored slowed to 1.2%, properly beneath the annual employment development of two.8%
• Underemployment price remained at 6.5%, 2.2 share factors decrease than March 2020
• Underutilisation price (combining unemployment and underemployment) remained at 10.4%, 3.5 share factors decrease than earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic

Underlying development information

• In December, the development unemployment price remained at 3.8%
• Development employment elevated by roughly 19,000 folks (0.1%), whereas hours labored fell by 0.2%
• The employment-to-population ratio decreased by 0.1 share level to 64.4%, and the participation price remained at 67.0%
• Underemployment price and underutilisation price remained at 6.5% and 10.3%, respectively, according to November’s figures

Taylor mentioned development indicators nonetheless level to a decent labour market, however the rising unemployment price since November 2022 and a slowdown in employment and hours labored recommend a possible easing of the labour market.

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