Jobs figures 'fantastic': Morrison

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has earned another feather in his cap - a drop in the unemployment rate to below six per cent.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has earned another feather in his cap after the jobless rate fell. (AAP)

It's been a good week for Malcolm Turnbull.

Since becoming prime minister six weeks ago, opinion polls show the coalition government extending an election-winning lead over Labor, consumer confidence soaring to its highest level in nearly two years, and to top it all off this week, the number of Australians with jobs has jumped.

Treasurer Scott Morrison labelled the latest jobs figures "fantastic" as 60,000 people obtained work in October, pushing the jobless rate below six per cent.

"Right across the board, we are seeing people get into these jobs," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

"That's something that's fantastic because that is the best thing that we can achieve together as a country."

ANZ economist Justin Fabo described the jobs figures in one word: "Wow".

The official monthly labour force numbers showed the jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.9 per cent, its lowest level in five months and only the second time it has been below six per cent since May 2014.

The number of people in employment also jumped by 58,600, which was almost four times more than the 15,000 economists had expected.

Full-time employment rose by 40,000 jobs, while part-time work increased by 18,600.

Mr Morrison said the businesses and employers who took on those workers were the "heroes of the economy".

Labor's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor welcomed the figures, but noted that 50,000 Australians remain unemployed since the 2013 election.

But Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said when a coalition government is given the opportunity to work with the crossbenchers in a constructive manner - and Labor and Greens get out of the way - its economic agenda and legislation gets through the Senate.

"The statistics are there for all to see," she told reporters.

The ANZ has been forecasting two interest rate cuts in the first half of 2016 while anticipating labour market conditions would remain "pretty good" in the near term.

"Perhaps the labour market is even better currently than we thought," Mr Fabo said.

"If so, achieving a cash rate cut by February looks less likely at this stage."

The cash rate has sat an all-time low of two per cent since May.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world