New SA cabinet to be announced next week

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill will announce his new cabinet on Monday following the resignation of a second minister this week.

Employment Minister Gail Gago has quit following the resignation of Emergency Services Minister Tony Piccolo on Monday, allowing Mr Weatherill to reshuffle his front bench.

"We're starting the year with a couple of new people in our team - get some new energy, new ideas to meet the big challenges we face as a state," Mr Weatherill told 5AA radio on Friday.

Ms Gago - who also holds portfolios including higher education and the status of women - is unhappy with parliament's progress on gender balance and wants a woman to replace her.

"I would have liked to see half (women) in my time as minister," she told the Adelaide Advertiser.

"I'd like to see a woman replace me in all respects, not just with the women's portfolio but my place in the ministry and the Legislative Council.

"These are things that I've been considering. When Tony stood down I thought well this is the right time," she said. "It's time for me. I'm in the right place."

Mr Piccolo's move to the back bench will clear the way for new upper house MP and former union boss Peter Malinauskas to be fast-tracked into the cabinet.

Mr Malinauskas filled a casual vacancy in the Legislative Council late last year following the resignation of former Labor MP Bernard Finnigan, who was convicted on a child pornography charge.

The premier thanked Ms Gago for her long-standing service and strides in tackling domestic violence.

"She's been a minister since 2006 and really a powerful advocate for women in our Cabinet," Mr Weatherill said.

"I think she's done some wonderful things".

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall urged the premier to give the employment portfolio to a senior member of the cabinet in Monday's reshuffle.

"South Australia's unemployment crisis is the single most important issue facing the state and it's time the employment minister became the driver of an effective jobs creation strategy," Mr Marshall said.

"Since 2009 there have been six employment ministers in a revolving door that has resulted in a complete failure to develop a long-term, co-ordinated policy to deliver job creation in South Australia."