WA's jobless rate 'reasonable': treasurer

Western Australia's unemployment rate has nudged up slightly to 5.6 per cent, but the treasurer believes it's a reasonable figure.

Treasurer Mike Nahan noted the annual average unemployment rate to April remained at six per cent - the equal second lowest among all Australian states.

He described the data as reasonable given the state's economy had the greatest exposure to the decline in resources-related business investment and softer commodity prices.

"What we are seeing now is structural change - a change that government policy is helping to facilitate - occurring in the WA economy after an unprecedented boom," he said.

Dr Nahan said the latest figures showed direct employment from major government projects was more than 96,000 jobs since 2008, as well as thousands more jobs created indirectly.

In the state budget handed down last week, Dr Nahan announced an extra $20 million for innovation, $50 million for agriculture, $30 million for tourism and $1 million for an expanded Chinese New Year package aimed at developing links with China and neighbouring countries.

"Our investments in tourism infrastructure such as Elizabeth Quay and the Perth Stadium are making WA a great place to live and will attract visitors to our state and create jobs," he said.

But opposition leader Mark McGowan said the figures showed the Barnett government had let the state down by failing to diversify the economy.

"Everyone knew there would be a painful transition out of the mining boom but now we are paying the price for Colin Barnett's failure to plan ahead," he said.

"There is now an extra 51,500 people jobless in WA compared to when the Liberals came to office in 2008 and we are seeing an increasing trend towards more casual and part-time jobs and fewer hours worked, which means less money in people's pockets."