THE Gawler region will find out tomorrow if its high unemployment rate will continue to rise faster than the rest of the state, after new statistics revealed yesterday South Australia has the highest jobless rate in Australia.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force data for December dropped yesterday, with South Australia’s unemployment rate dropping slightly to 6.2 per cent from 6.3 per cent a month earlier.

Strong job growth in Queensland meant its jobless rate dropped significantly from 6.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent, dooming South Australia to the worst rate in the country.

December’s detailed labour force statistics for Adelaide’s north region – including Gawler, Elizabeth, Two Wells and Mallala – will be released tomorrow, with November’s data showing the north had an unemployment rate 2 per cent higher than the rest of the state, at 8.3 per cent.

While the state’s unemployment dropped significantly in July – from 7.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent – and has kept steady since, the rate in the north have been steadily rising since May 2018, when it was 6.3 per cent.

Skills and innovation minister David Pisoni said there is “further work to be done” to grow jobs in South Australia.

“The drop in the headline unemployment rate in South Australia is encouraging, but clearly there is further work to be done to strengthen the SA economy and create more jobs,” he said.

“That’s why we are focused on driving positive jobs growth today through lowering costs for businesses in SA – including the abolition of payroll tax for all small businesses and by reducing the top land tax rate from a national high 3.7 per cent to just 2.4 per cent.

“Since the election of the Marshall Liberal Government business confidence has improved with the ANZ/Property Council’s recent survey of business confidence showing a strong rise in positive sentiment in the property industry in South Australia.”

The unemployment rate announcement was especially tough for young people, with youth unemployment also the equal-worst in the country at 14.3 per cent.

Shadow treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the statistics were “terrible for SA”.

“Our State’s young people deserve a Government willing to support them into employment, not one that cuts job creation programs,” he said.

“Steven Marshall made a clear promise that he would deliver more jobs, yet for young South Australians the unemployment rate has skyrocketed from 11.5 per cent to 14.3 per cent since he was elected.”