SA leaders clash over jobs

South Australia's political leaders have clashed over employment policies as cabinet gathered in the state's mid north, one of the areas hardest hit by job losses.

On the sixth anniversary of Labor's promise to create 100,000 jobs by 2016, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the government had delivered less than 10,000, leaving SA struggling in recent months with the nation's highest jobless rate.

"If Labor had achieved its target, then every child who had finished school over the past six years would have a job," Mr Marshall said.

"Instead, what Labor has delivered over the past six years is the highest youth unemployment rate in the nation, the highest unemployment rate in the nation and the highest underemployment rate in the nation."

But Premier Jay Weatherill hit back calling on the opposition to come up with constructive solutions.

"Any idiot can describe the problem," he said.

"What we need is some positive ideas about addressing the problem."

On Sunday, state cabinet held a community forum in Port Augusta where Alinta Energy plans to shut down its power stations next month with the loss of about 200 jobs.

Ministers will remain in the mid-north on Monday and Tuesday with a planned visit to Leigh Creek, where Alinta recently closed down its coal mine, the town's major employer.