Findings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal that, after two quarterly falls in a row, employment in retailing across Australia has now fallen by 23,300 in seasonally adjusted terms in six months.

That fall of 1.3% marked a sharp turnaround from much stronger growth of 89,200 or 6% in the preceeding half year. In the three months from February to May, employment in the retailing sector was down by 5,200 (i.e. 0.3%)

On the whole, the trend in retail trade has stalled this year after growing strongly last year 2007.

Whilst employment in retailing has fallen, other sectors have continued generating demand for labour, with the education sector leading the way with a growth of 15,200 (i.e. 2%) in the three months to May.

Construction posted a rise of 11,800 or 1.2% in the three months, whilst manufacturing was up by 11,900, or 1.1%. Growth has also occurred in mining and agriculture with those sectors adding 14,700 to the trend measure of employment over the three months.

Total employment growth was 55,300 for the quarter, a solid 2.1% on an annualised basis (that is, if it continued at that rate for four consecutive quarters).