Australia Jobless Rate Highest Since 2021

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.7% in September, unchanged from an upwardly revised figure in August and above expectations of 4.6%. It was the highest since October 2021, with the number of unemployed increasing by 8,900 to 732,000, the highest since April 2021. Full-time job seekers rose by 17,600 to 499,400, while part-time job seekers fell by 8,600 to 232,700. Meanwhile, employment unexpectedly fell by 39,300 to 14.78 million, defying expectations of a 20,000 rise, after a downward revision of the August increase of 29,300 jobs. Part-time employment declined by 73,700 to 4.55 million, while full-time employment increased by 34,400 to 10.23 million. The participation rate edged down to 66.8% from 67.0% in August, coming in below expectations and reaching its lowest level in four months. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate inched up to 6.3% from 6.2% in August, while total monthly hours worked across all jobs increased by 1 million to 2.011 billion.

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.6% in August, above both market expectations and July’s 4.5%. It was the highest since November 2021, with the number of unemployed rising by 28,200 to 722,900, the highest since April 2021. Meanwhile, employment increased by 39,500 to 14.84 million, well above expectations for a 20,000 rise, following an upwardly revised decline of 15,900 jobs in July. Part-time employment rose by 45,800 to 4.64 million, while full-time employment fell by 6,300 to 10.19 million. The participation rate edged up to 67.1%, above expectations and July’s 66.9%, reaching its highest level since April 2025. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate eased to 6.2% from 6.3% in July, while total monthly hours worked across all jobs increased by 14 million to 2.009 billion.

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment edged up to 4.5% in July, surpassing both market expectations and June’s figure of 4.4%. The latest reading was the same as April’s figure, which was the highest since November 2021. The number of unemployed increased by 4,200 to 691,500 from 687,400 in June, with the number of full-time employed people advancing by 6,100 to 462,900, while the number of part-time employed people dropped by 1,900 to 228,700. Employment fell unexpectedly by 15,800 to 14.81 million, defying expectations for a 15,000 increase, following an upwardly revised gain of 80,300 jobs in June, marking the first decline in three months. Part-time employment dropped by 32,200 to a three-month low of 4.60 million, while full-time employment increased by 16,300 to 10.21 million. The participation rate inched down to 66.9%, in line with expectations. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate stood at 6.4%, unchanged from a downwardly revised figure in June.