Jobless rate leads nation

MORE than 5 per cent of Tasmanians are unemployed – the the highest unemployment rate in the country, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Figures released on Thursday show 5.5 per cent of Tasmanians were unemployed to August.

The Northern Territory kept the lowest unemployment rate with 3.4 per cent, followed by Victoria with 4.1 per cent.

Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased to a national average of 4.5 per cent, but the youth unemployment rate increased to 10.7 per cent.