FED:Jobless rate still envy of world: Evans

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2011
FED:Jobless rate still envy of world: Evans

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Australia's unemployment rate remains comparatively low and
is still the envy of the world, federal Jobs Minister Chris Evans says.

The unemployment rate rose to 5.1 per cent in July when economists had expected it
to remain at 4.9 per cent for another month.

"Australia's unemployment rate remains one of the lowest rates in the industrialised
world and stands in stark contrast to our peers," Senator Evans said in a statement on
Thursday.

He said at the start of the global financial crisis, Australia's unemployment rate
was the same as the US, but now America's jobless rate is nearly double that of Australia's.

"This would simply not be possible if it weren't for Australia avoiding recession during
the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," the senator said.

"Australia's labour market - like the Australian economy - remains resilient, particularly
in the context of the chronic unemployment problems besetting so many other advanced economies."

AAP cb/ht/

KEYWORD: JOBS EVANS

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