- Western Australia’s monthly employment grew by a massive 1.8 per cent or 28,000 people in May – the best result in the nation
- Over the past 12 months employment grew by around 75,000 additional jobs, reaching a record 1.62 million for the first time
- Unemployment fell to 3.6 per cent in May, the lowest in the country
- ABS population data also shows 3.3 per cent growth in WA’s population in 2023, the strongest growth of all jurisdictions
- These results highlight the continued strength in WA’s domestic economy, which grew by a nation-leading 5.5 per cent to the March quarter 2024
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today shows that Western Australia’s economy once again continues to lead the nation in jobs and population growth.
Monthly employment grew by 1.8 per cent or 28,000 jobs in May, the best result of all jurisdictions and the strongest monthly employment growth since June 2010, other than during COVID-19.
It takes Western Australia’s total employment to a record 1.62 million in May, with nearly 75,000 additional jobs created over the past 12 months at a 4.9 per cent growth rate, also the strongest of all states and territories.
A massive 318,000 jobs have now been created since Labor came to office in 2017. This includes 225,000 jobs created in this term of Government, exceeding the 2021 election target by around 80 per cent.
Western Australia’s unemployment rate also fell to 3.6 per cent in May, the lowest in the nation and well below the national rate of four per cent.
Notably, this is the second-longest period of sustained low unemployment in the past 46 years of available ABS data, with the unemployment rate, at or below, below four per cent for 31 of the past 32 months.
ABS population data also released today shows WA’s population grew by 3.3 per cent, or 93,771 people in 2023, the strongest growth in the nation.
This was primarily due to people migrating from overseas, but interstate migration also remains strong with WA only one of two states that had growth in this area.
The strong data corresponds with data released by the ABS earlier this month that showed that WA’s domestic economy grew by 5.5 per cent in annual average terms in the March quarter 2024, by far the strongest of the states and territories and double the growth in the national economy.
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
“These latest ABS statistics again highlight the dominance of Western Australia’s economy across the nation.
“We continue to record incredible employment growth with 28,000 jobs created in the month of May.
“To put that into perspective, there were 39,700 jobs added nationwide during May, so we’ve accounted for over 70 per cent of those new jobs.
“Our Government has always prided itself on creating jobs and keeping the economy strong, so it’s fantastic that we continue to deliver on those priorities, with almost 318,000 jobs created since we came into Government.
“Of course, our unemployment fell again to 3.6 per cent, the lowest in the country, and is the second-longest period of sustained low unemployment in the past 46 years of available data – another incredible result.
“Coupled with continued strong population growth from both overseas and intestate, this again shows that Western Australia is the place to be.”
