LOCAL women have found themselves more likely to lose their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic than men, after new statistics revealed 500 females lost employment last month.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics dropped its detailed labour force statistics yesterday, a week after the state’s unemployment rate dropped significantly.

The numbers revealed women continue to be disproportionately affected by job losses in the north, with 500 females finding themselves out of work, while 100 men gained employment.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March, approximately 2600 women have lost employment, compared to 2000 men.

The north’s unemployment rate remained at 8.7 per cent, the first time it had stayed steady since February.

Two weeks ago, national unemployment statistics showed South Australia’s unemployment rate had dropped from 8.8 per cent to 7.9 per cent during July.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said greater infrastructure spending in the north was needed to help bring the state’s jobs rebound to the Gawler region.

“My concern is that South Australia went into this pandemic with the worst job numbers in the country,” he said.

“The State Government needs to be applying maximum pressure to reduce the unemployment rate. I’m concerned we’re not seeing the amount of activity which would achieve that.

“I would point to infrastructure. We know when governments do it well they can be committed to using those projects to employ local businesses and people.”

Nationally, unemployment rose by .1 per cent in July, with SA no longer the worst state for unemployment in the nation.

Innovation and skills minister David Pisoni said growing and maintaining local jobs throughout the pandemic was “a priority”.

“We are doing everything in our power to ensure as many local jobs as possible survive through the greatest economic challenge of our time,” said Mr Pisoni.

“Nearly 100,000 jobs have been supported in SA through our $10,000 emergency cash grants, which have benefitted more than 18,700 small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

“We have also announced a record $12.9 billion pipeline of infrastructure works over the next four years to drive jobs and improve economic productivity.

“More infrastructure will be built in South Australia than in any other four-year period in our state’s history.”