South Australia has crossed a historic threshold, with more than one million people now employed for the first time since records began.
The milestone comes with the state recording the equal-lowest unemployment rate in the country, according to the latest labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In December, South Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate sat at 3.9 per cent, matching Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, and remaining below the national rate of 4.1 per cent.
Employment rose by 8,000 people over the month, taking the total number of jobs to a record 1,000,200. It marks the first time South Australia has exceeded one million people in work in an ABS Labour Force survey.
Full-time employment also reached a new high, increasing by 15,500 to 659,800. The participation rate climbed to a record 65.1 per cent, up 0.4 percentage points, reflecting an additional 7,400 people entering or remaining in the workforce.
Over 2025, seasonally adjusted employment growth in South Australia stood at 5.1 per cent, far outpacing the national growth rate of 1.1 per cent.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the figures reflected the central focus of the government’s economic agenda.
“We know that as a Labor Government, jobs are the core of everything we do,” he said.
“And that’s why today’s jobs record—a million South Australians employed for the first time ever, is so incredibly pleasing.”
Employment rose by 8,000 people over the month, taking the total number of jobs to a record 1,000,200. It marks the first time South Australia has exceeded one million people in work in an ABS Labour Force survey
He said the state’s employment base had expanded sharply since the 2022 election.
“The state is building—over the course of our busy four years in Government the total number of people employed has grown from 900,400 at the time of the 2022 State Election to today’s record of 1,000,200 for the month of December,” he said.
“That’s almost 100,000 new jobs created.”
Mr Malinauskas linked rising employment to broader economic activity across the state.
“Nothing creates jobs like jobs—the more people are working, the more people are out spending, generating economic activity and turning the wheels of a vibrant economy,” he said.
“That helps small businesses and helps create yet more new jobs for South Australians.”
The record figures arrive as the government argues the state’s economic position rests on stability and steady growth, with employment gains now at levels not previously seen in South Australia.
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