Employment in Australia dropped by 39,300 to 14.78 million in September 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 29,300 increase in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 20,000 gain. Part-time employment decreased by 73,700 to 4,550,200 people while full-time employment increased by 34,400 to 10,232,400. The employment-to-population ratio fell to 63.6% from 63.9% in August, and the participation rate eased to 66.8% from 67.0%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment expanded by 168,300, or 1.2%. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Employment in Australia decreased by 39329 in September of 2026. Employment Change in Australia averaged 15069.43 Persons from 1978 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 365561.00 Persons in November of 2021 and a record low of -578649.00 Persons in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Australia Employment Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Australia Employment Change - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.

Employment in Australia decreased by 39329 in September of 2026. Employment Change in Australia is expected to be -14200.00 Persons by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Employment Change is projected to trend around 14000.00 Persons in 2027 and 2000.00 Persons in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-24 01:30 AM
Employment Change
Aug 39.5K -15.9K 20K 15.1K
2026-10-15 12:30 AM
Employment Change
Sep -39.3K 29.3K 20K 15.9K
2026-11-19 12:30 AM
Employment Change
Oct -39.3K 34.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14782.70 14822.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Employment Change -39329.00 29282.00 Persons Sep 2026
Employment Rate 63.60 63.90 percent Sep 2026
Full Time Employment Chg 34385.00 -4020.00 Persons Sep 2026
Job Vacancies 325.00 329.50 Thousand Sep 2026
Participation Rate 66.80 67.00 percent Sep 2026
Labour Costs 109.90 108.60 points Jun 2026
Part Time Employment Chg -73714.00 33303.00 Persons Sep 2026
Population 27.80 27.40 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 99.70 99.70 points Jun 2026
Unemployed Persons 732.00 723.10 Thousand Sep 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.70 4.70 percent Sep 2026
Wage Price Index YoY 3.20 3.20 percent Jun 2026
Wages 1579.20 1562.40 AUD/Week Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 1762.60 1770.30 AUD/Week Jun 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 11.10 10.90 percent Sep 2026


Australia Employment Change
In Australia, employment change refers to the absolute change in the number of persons who work for pay or profit, or perform unpaid family work. Estimates include both full-time and part-time employment.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-39329.00 29282.00 365561.00 -578649.00 1978 - 2026 Persons Monthly
Volume, SA

News Stream
Australia Employment Unexpectedly Falls
Employment in Australia dropped by 39,300 to 14.78 million in September 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 29,300 increase in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 20,000 gain. Part-time employment decreased by 73,700 to 4,550,200 people while full-time employment increased by 34,400 to 10,232,400. The employment-to-population ratio fell to 63.6% from 63.9% in August, and the participation rate eased to 66.8% from 67.0%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment expanded by 168,300, or 1.2%.
2026-10-15
Australia Employment Rises More than Estimated
Employment in Australia increased by 39,500 to a new record of 14.84 million in August 2026, reversing a marginally revised 15,900 decline in the previous month and easily exceeding market expectations for a 20,000 gain. Part-time employment surged 45,800 to 4.64 million while full-time employment declined by 6,300 to 10.19 million. The employment-to-population ratio edged up to 63.9% from 63.8%, while the participation rate was up to 67.1% from 66.9% in July. Compared with a year earlier, total employment expanded by 238,100, or 1.6%.
2026-09-24
Australia Employment Unexpectedly Falls
Employment in Australia dropped by 15,800 to 14.81 million in July 2026, shifting from an upwardly revised 80,300 jump in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 15,000 gain. It marked the first monthly decline since April, driven by a 32,200 decline in part-time employment to a three-month low of 4.60 million. Meanwhile, full-time employment rose by 16,300 to a new peak of 10.21 million. The employment-to-population ratio fell to 63.9% from 64.1%, marking the first drop in three months. The participation rate slipped to 66.9% from 67.1%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment was up by 191,900, or 1.3%.
2026-08-20