South Australia

Premier: Peter Malinauskas (Labor), since 21 Mar 2022

Governments since 1998

Peter Malinauskas

Labor · 21 Mar 2022 to now

Average over 5 years in office: unemployment 4.2%, growth 3.7%, wages 3.4%, inflation 4.8%

Steven Marshall

Liberal · 19 Mar 2018 to 21 Mar 2022

Average over 4 years in office: unemployment 6.3%, growth 2.2%, wages 2.1%, inflation 1.9%

Jay Weatherill

Labor · 21 Oct 2011 to 19 Mar 2018

Average over 6 years in office: unemployment 6.4%, growth 1.5%, wages 2.8%, inflation 1.6%

Mike Rann

Labor · 5 Mar 2002 to 21 Oct 2011

Average over 10 years in office: unemployment 5.6%, growth 3.8%, wages 3.7%, inflation 3.0%

Rob Kerin

Liberal · 22 Oct 2001 to 5 Mar 2002

Not in office on 30 June of any full financial year since 1998-99.

John Olsen

Liberal · 28 Nov 1996 to 22 Oct 2001

Average over 3 years in office: unemployment 8.0%, growth 2.1%, wages 3.1%, inflation 3.4%

Averages use the financial years ending (30 June) while each leader was in office. They describe the state's economy at the time, not what any government caused.

Source: Premier of South Australia (GA779): gazetted Premiers

State Records of South Australia · checked 21 October 2026

Statistics by year

Unemployment rate

Average of the 12 monthly rates in the financial year (seasonally adjusted; trend for the ACT and NT, which have no seasonally adjusted series).

2025-26

4.2%

Premier on 30 June: Peter Malinauskas (Labor)

2024-25

4.1%

Premier on 30 June: Peter Malinauskas (Labor)

2023-24

3.9%

Premier on 30 June: Peter Malinauskas (Labor)

2022-23

4.1%

Premier on 30 June: Peter Malinauskas (Labor)

2021-22

4.7%

Premier on 30 June: Peter Malinauskas (Labor)

2020-21

6.6%

Premier on 30 June: Steven Marshall (Liberal)

2019-20

6.7%

Premier on 30 June: Steven Marshall (Liberal)

2018-19

5.8%

Premier on 30 June: Steven Marshall (Liberal)

2017-18

5.9%

Premier on 30 June: Steven Marshall (Liberal)

2016-17

6.7%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2015-16

7.3%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2014-15

6.9%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2013-14

6.7%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2012-13

5.7%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2011-12

5.3%

Premier on 30 June: Jay Weatherill (Labor)

2010-11

5.4%