[Australia] Women’s workforce participation rate remains at record high

The workforce participation rate for Australian women reached a record high of 62.5 per cent in March and remained at that rate in July according to ABS figures, Women's Agenda reports.

When the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released data for March it showed an increase in women’s full-time employment; climbing by more than 80,000 over the previous two months. The latest ABS data reveals that this participation rate has held.

Addressing March’s record high, Lauren Ford - Head of Labour Statistics at the ABS - said the data showed strong growth in women’s employment.

“With consecutive months of strong growth in female employment (up 81,000 over the past two months), the female participation rate increased to a record high of 62.5 per cent, and their employment-to-population ratio also hit a historical high of 60.4 per cent,” Ms Ford said.

When the figures were released, Australia’s overall workforce participation rate remained at 66.7 per cent, with the data also showing Australia’s national unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted), a near 50-year low, according to the ABS.

“In line with the increase in employment, the employment-to-population ratio increased 0.1 percentage point to 64.4 per cent, with the participation rate remaining at 66.7 per cent,” Ms Ford said. 

“Both indicators were close to their historical highs in November 2022, reflecting a tight labour market and explaining why employers are finding it hard to fill the high number of job vacancies.”

Source: Women's Agenda

(Link and quotes via orginal reporting)

The workforce participation rate for Australian women reached a record high of 62.5 per cent in March and remained at that rate in July according to ABS figures, Women's Agenda reports.

When the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released data for March it showed an increase in women’s full-time employment; climbing by more than 80,000 over the previous two months. The latest ABS data reveals that this participation rate has held.

Addressing March’s record high, Lauren Ford - Head of Labour Statistics at the ABS - said the data showed strong growth in women’s employment.

“With consecutive months of strong growth in female employment (up 81,000 over the past two months), the female participation rate increased to a record high of 62.5 per cent, and their employment-to-population ratio also hit a historical high of 60.4 per cent,” Ms Ford said.

When the figures were released, Australia’s overall workforce participation rate remained at 66.7 per cent, with the data also showing Australia’s national unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted), a near 50-year low, according to the ABS.

“In line with the increase in employment, the employment-to-population ratio increased 0.1 percentage point to 64.4 per cent, with the participation rate remaining at 66.7 per cent,” Ms Ford said. 

“Both indicators were close to their historical highs in November 2022, reflecting a tight labour market and explaining why employers are finding it hard to fill the high number of job vacancies.”

Source: Women's Agenda

(Link and quotes via orginal reporting)