ACT unemployment rate barely changes but forecasters warn of worse to come for workers

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The number of Canberrans with a job increased slightly last month, defying predictions that the coronavirus pandemic would devastate the labour market.

But a bigger change in the ACT was the loss of full-time employment, offset by an increase in part-time jobs.

Key points:

  • Canberra’s unemployment rate shifted from 3.3 to 3.5 per cent in March
  • About 700 extra jobs were created, though full-jobs disappeared and were replaced by part-time work
  • The Chief Minister warns of worse to come, and expects the jobless rate to hit 6 per cent

In Canberra, the “raw” unemployment rate rose from 3.3 per cent in February to 3.5 per cent in March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest data, released today.

The number of Canberrans in part-time work increased by 3,000, while full-time jobs dropped by 2,400.

Meanwhile, an extra 2,200 Canberrans registered as unemployed, despite more people working