Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched down to 4.4% in May, from April’s more than four-year high of 4.5%, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed fell by 18,300 to 671,300 from 689,600 in April, with the number of part-time job seekers falling by 9,700 to 230,500, while the number of full-time job seekers dropped by 8,600 to 440,800. Employment increased by 40,300 to 14.74 million, surpassing estimates for a 30,000 rise, the strongest employment gain since December, rebounding from an upwardly revised loss of 40,700 jobs in April. Full-time employment rose by 5,200 to 10.14 million, while part-time employment increased by 35,200 to 4.60 million. The participation rate edged up to 66.7% from a downwardly revised 66.6% in April, which was the lowest level in five months, matching market estimates. The underemployment rate inched up to 5.9% from 5.8%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs decreased by 22 million to 2,010 million. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Unemployment Rate in Australia decreased to 4.40 percent in May from 4.50 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Australia averaged 6.51 percent from 1978 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.20 percent in December of 1992 and a record low of 3.40 percent in October of 2022. This page provides - Australia Unemployment Rate at 5.8% in December - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Australia Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Australia decreased to 4.40 percent in May from 4.50 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Australia is expected to be 4.60 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.90 percent in 2027 and 4.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-21 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 4.5% 4.3% 4.3% 4.3%
2026-06-25 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 4.4% 4.5% 4.4% 4.4%
2026-07-23 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 4.4% 4.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14738.80 14698.50 Thousand May 2026
Employment Change 40343.00 -40651.00 Persons May 2026
Employment Rate 63.80 63.70 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment Chg 5160.00 -21646.00 Persons May 2026
Job Vacancies 329.50 337.90 Thousand Jun 2026
Participation Rate 66.70 66.60 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 108.70 107.80 points Mar 2026
Part Time Employment Chg 35183.00 -19006.00 Persons May 2026
Population 27.70 27.40 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 99.60 100.20 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 671.30 689.60 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.50 percent May 2026
Wage Price Index YoY 3.30 3.40 percent Mar 2026
Wages 1562.40 1542.30 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 1770.30 1715.50 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 10.40 11.00 percent May 2026


Australia Unemployment Rate
In Australia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.40 4.50 11.20 3.40 1978 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Jobless Rate Falls to 4.4%, Meets Estimates
Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched down to 4.4% in May, from April’s more than four-year high of 4.5%, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed fell by 18,300 to 671,300 from 689,600 in April, with the number of part-time job seekers falling by 9,700 to 230,500, while the number of full-time job seekers dropped by 8,600 to 440,800. Employment increased by 40,300 to 14.74 million, surpassing estimates for a 30,000 rise, the strongest employment gain since December, rebounding from an upwardly revised loss of 40,700 jobs in April. Full-time employment rose by 5,200 to 10.14 million, while part-time employment increased by 35,200 to 4.60 million. The participation rate edged up to 66.7% from a downwardly revised 66.6% in April, which was the lowest level in five months, matching market estimates. The underemployment rate inched up to 5.9% from 5.8%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs decreased by 22 million to 2,010 million.
2026-06-25
Australia Jobless Rate Highest Since 2021
Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.5% in April, above both the previous month and market expectations of 4.3%. It was the highest level since November 2021, as the number of unemployed rose by 33,000 to 692,500 from 659,500 in March. The number of part-time job seekers climbed by 22,300 to 241,700, while those in full-time work rose by 10,700 to 450,800. Employment unexpectedly fell by 18,600 to 14.74 million, defying estimates for a 17,500 increase, marking the first decline in five months, after an upwardly revised gain of 23,300 in March. Full-time employment dropped by 43,900 to 10.16 million, while part-time employment fell by 11,900 to 4.58 million. The participation rate edged down to a three-month low of 66.7% from March’s level and market estimates of 66.8%. The underemployment rate inched down to 5.8% from 5.9%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs increased by 16 million to 2,036 million.
2026-05-21
Australia Jobless Rate Holds at 4.3%
Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in March 2026, unchanged from February and in line with forecasts. Still, the latest reading remained at the highest level since last November, even as the number of unemployed fell by 3,700 to 656,300 from 660,100 in February. The number of part-time job seekers fell by 3,800 to 217,500, while those in full-time work rose by 4,600 to 438,800. Meanwhile, employment rose by 17,900 to 14.77 million, below estimates for a 20,000 increase, the weakest job growth since a contraction last November and following an upwardly revised gain of 49,600 in February. Full-time employment increased by 52,500 to 10.17 million, while part-time employment dropped by 34,600 to 4.59 million. The participation rate edged down to 66.8% from both February’s four-month high of 66.9% and market estimates. The underemployment rate held steady at 5.9%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs rose by 9 million to 2,016 million.
2026-04-16