Colin Barnett will go to the March 11 election with WA holding the unwanted mantle as the worst place in the country to find a job.

Despite a small fall in the number of jobless last month, Bureau of Statistics figures showed WA now had the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.5 per cent.

It is the second time in three months the State has had the nation’s highest jobless rate, with the result driven by a 3200 fall in the number of full-time workers.

Part-time jobs jumped by 18,300 through January while the number of unemployed actually slipped marginally.

It is tougher for women, with the female unemployment rate at 7 per cent, about its highest level since the start of the century. For men, the situation is improving with the jobless rate down to 6 per cent.

Play Video Many West Australians will start the new year without a job. The West Australian Video Many West Australians will start the new year without a job.

Despite the high jobless rate, which has been stuck above 6 per cent since the middle of last year, there are signs the overall jobs market is starting to stabilise.

The total number in full-time work has lifted by 11,100 since September compared with a 4000 improvement in part-time worker numbers.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the Barnett Government’s legacy for WA was the worst unemployment figures in the nation.

“When Labor left power in 2008 our unemployment rate was around 21/2 per cent which meant there was around 28,000 West Australians out of work,” Mr McGowan said. “Today it is 93,000 West Australians out of work. That is an additional 65,000 West Australians out of work on the Liberal Party’s watch.”

Nationally, the jobless rate edged down to 5.7 per cent from 5.8 per cent. The fall, however, hid a 44,800 crash in full-time employment across the nation that was offset by a 58,300 lift in part-time workers.

But the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned there will be a battle between efforts to boost jobs and to bring down the State’s large debt.

Play Video Searching and applying for jobs can be a daunting task, but here are five tips to help make the process a little less so. The West Australian Video Searching and applying for jobs can be a daunting task, but here are five tips to help make the process a little less so.

Chief economist Rick Newnham said yesterday there needed to be more spending on infrastructure to help diversify the State economy, but this would be difficult given the State’s expected net debt of $41 billion.

The sale of Western Power, pledged by the Barnett Government, appeared the only way to both limit debt and carry out the necessary spending but the ALP had yet to explain how it would pay down debt, Mr Newnham said.