Fall in WA payroll job numbers

Victorian jobs have been damaged by the latest snap lockdown imposed by the state government to curb transmission of the coronavirus earlier in the month.

New payroll figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the number of jobs in the second-most populous state fell 2.1 per cent for the fortnight ending June 5.

Jobs in WA fell 0.6 per cent.

Nationally, payroll jobs declined 0.9 per cent, with Northern Territory the only jurisdiction to report a rise in the number of people employed.

ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said the most recent data overlaps with the first nine days of the Victorian and Melbourne lockdown, with falls recorded in all industries.

“Almost every industry in Victoria saw a fall in payroll jobs during this period, with the largest falls seen in the accommodation and food services, and arts and recreation services industries,” he said.

“Each lockdown sees falls in accommodation and food services payroll jobs, reflecting the impact that restrictions have on this industry.”

Accommodation and food services in Victoria reported a 10.2 per cent plummet, while arts and recreation jobs nosedived eight per cent over the fortnight.

Mr Jarvis noted domestic border closures are also impacting sectors such as tourism in other states.

“While the fall in payroll jobs is generally greatest in the state or territory of the lockdown, restrictions that affect interstate travel may also contribute to falls in payroll jobs in the accommodation and food services industry in other states and territories,” he said.

All states and territories witnessed job falls in the accommodation and food sector.