CANBERRA: South Australian consumers continue to be worried about unemployment despite the latest Bank SA survey showing business confidence at its highest level in three years. Bank SA said consumer confidence, which was measured on intentions to make a big purchase, has been recorded at its worst level in 20 years. But the bank’s State Monitor report, which was based on a phone survey of 300 consumers and 300 small business owners and managers, also showed business confidence was at its highest level in three years, with many business owners indicating a stronger intention to hire more people during the next three months. The state’s jobless rate remains the worst in the nation at 6.7 per cent in September.
Bank SA’s managing director Nick Reade said consumers were worried about job security, with 37 per cent of those surveyed raising concerns about employment. “[It’s] probably one of the worst results in 20 years. In the survey, [consumers are holding off on] any large expenditure whether it be household goods or holidays or significant things like that,” he said.
“They’re worried about unemployment, therefore they’re sitting on their hands in terms of investing.” He said the upbeat business market was not being felt by consumers and would not appear in the figures until they felt job opportunities appeared.
South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said consumers should be buoyed by the survey’s finding that there had been a 26 per cent jump in the number of business owners intending to hire more staff. “There’s a lot of negativity out and about in the community. That negativity is being led by opponents that want to talk down our economy, people that want to say South Australia’s best years are behind it rather than ahead of it,” Mr Koutsantonis said. “But I think what business is showing is that our best years are ahead of us, conditions here are good.” He said the State Government’s budget was in surplus, taxes had been cut and a state grant to create jobs was being taken up by small businesses.
