''One change does not a trend make,'' said Deloitte Access director Chris Richardson, a former treasury economist.

If for example the Commonwealth had extended forward only the most recent change in employment [between December and January] it would have looked as if employment was on track to climb 124,800 in the coming year. But if it had extended forward the previous change [between November and December] employment would have looked on track to slide 45,600.

''It's good practice to use all of the comparable data, not just one change,'' Mr Richardson said. ''The trend is your friend. To construct it you should use all the comparable data.''

NAPLAN data going back to 2008 show reading, spelling and grammar on an improving trend. The proportion of year 3 students failing to meet minimum reading standards fell from 7.9 per cent to 6.5 per cent. The proportion failing to meet minimum spelling standards fell from 7.5 to 6 per cent.

''We will make this reading blitz one of the aims of our school funding reforms,'' Ms Gillard told parents and children gathered for the launch at her residence in Canberra. ''We want to make sure that every child is assessed, every child's strengths and weaknesses on reading are known and every child gets the opportunity to become a great reader.''