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%.

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%.

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%.