Latest News Stream - Employment Change

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom climbed by 102 thousand to 34.577 million in the three months in August 2026, sharply exceeding forecasts for a gain of 20 thousand and following a 66 thousand rise in the previous period. The increase was driven by continued growth in full-time workers that partly offset a decline in part-time employment. Compared with a year earlier, employment rose by 356 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time and part-time workers, with the rise in full-time employment driven by employees and the increase in part-time work supported by self-employed workers. The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 rose to 75.3% from 75.1% in the previous quarter and up 0.1 percentage point a year earlier, while the rate for those aged 65 and over fell to 13.2% from 13.5%. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs rose over the quarter to 1.294 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment, but remained below the level recorded a year ago.

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%.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 67 thousand to 34.478 million in the three months in July 2026, following a gain of 83 thousand in the previous period. The increase was the smallest since February, as a decline in part-time employment partly offset continued growth in full-time jobs. Compared with a year earlier, employment rose by 243 thousand, driven by increases in both full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. Despite the increase in employment, the employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 stood at 75.1% over the quarter but 0.1 percentage point lower compared to a year earlier, extending the broadly stable trend seen since mid-2024, while the rate for those aged 65 and over remained unchanged at 13.3%. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs increased over the quarter to 1.283 million, representing 3.7% of total employment.

The number of employed persons in the Euro Area grew by 0.1% from the previous quarter to 176.448 million in the second quarter of 2026, the same pace as the first quarter, and consistent with market expectations and the flash estimate. It was the bloc's 21st consecutive quarter of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, even though high energy prices and sluggish productivity led economic headwinds in the period. Job growth remained sharp in Spain (0.5% vs 0.3% in Q1) while net employment for a third period in France. Meanwhile, employment fell for a fifth straight quarter in Germany (-0.1% vs -0.1%) and slowed in Italy (0.5% vs 0.3%), despite remaining robust. From the previous year, employment growth in the Eurozone was unchanged at 0.5%.

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%.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom increased by 83 thousand to 34.469 million in the three months to June 2026, following a gain of 147 thousand in the previous period. The increase was the smallest since February, reflecting a decline in part-time employment that partly offset continued growth in full-time jobs. Compared with a year earlier, employment rose by 253 thousand, driven by increases in both full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 stood at 75.1%, extending the broadly stable trend seen since mid-2024, while the rate for those aged 65 and over stood at 13.3%. By gender, the employment rate remained higher for men at 64.2%, compared with 57.4% for women. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs increased over the quarter to 1.293 million, representing 3.7% of total employment.

Employment in Canada increased by 75,100 in July 2026, well above market expectations for a 15,000 gain, following a revised 18,200 increase in June. The employment level rose 0.4% month-over-month, driven by a 57,900 increase in private-sector jobs after a 31,600 gain in the previous month, while public-sector employment fell by 27,000, extending June's 31,000 decline. By industry, employment increased in wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+18,000), professional, scientific and technical services (+17,000), and construction (+16,000). In contrast, jobs declined in public administration (-15,000) and agriculture (-9,600). Regionally, employment rose for a third consecutive month in Ontario (+52,000), alongside gains in British Columbia (+18,000), Manitoba (+5,900), and Nova Scotia (+4,600). Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.9%.

Employment in Australia rose by 76,300 to a record high of 14.82 million in June 2026, accelerating sharply from an upwardly revised 43,900 increase in May and easily surpassing market expectations for a 15,000 gain. It marked the strongest monthly job growth since April, driven by a 29,300 increase in full-time employment to 10.17 million and a 47,000 rise in part-time employment to 4.65 million. Reflecting the robust labor market, the employment-to-population ratio climbed to 64.0% from 63.7%, extending gains for a second consecutive month, while the participation rate increased to 67.0% from 66.7%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment was up by 252,000, or 1.7%.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 148 thousand to 34.475 million in the three months to May 2026, exceeding expectations for a gain of 85 thousand and following a 99 thousand increase in the previous period. This marked the largest increase since July 2025, driven by increases in both full-time and part-time employment. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 340 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. Despite the increase in employment, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 edged up to 75.1% from 75.0% in the previous quarter but remained 0.1 percentage point below a year earlier, extending the broadly stable trend seen since mid-2024. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs rose over the quarter to 1.278 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment, though it remained below the level recorded a year earlier.

Canada's employment increased by 18,000 in June 2026, above market expectations for a 10,000 gain, following an increase of 88,000 in May. Employment rose 0.1% from the previous month, driven by a 32,000 increase among private-sector employees after a 56,000 gain in May. Accommodation and food services added 15,000 jobs, marking a third consecutive monthly increase. In contrast, manufacturing employment fell by 17,000, reversing much of May's 15,000 increase. Public-sector employment declined by 31,000. Regionally, employment increased in Quebec (+14,000) for a second straight month, as well as in Nova Scotia (+4,800) and Saskatchewan (+2,900). Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.8%.

Employment in Australia rose by 40,300 to 14.74 million in May 2026, rebounding from a revised decline of 40,700 in the previous month and surpassing market expectations for a 30,000 increase. It marked the strongest employment gain since December, driven by a 35,200 rise in part-time jobs to 4.60 million, while full-time employment also increased by 5,200 to 10.14 million. The employment-to-population ratio edged up to 63.8% from 63.7%, marking its first increase in six months. Meanwhile, the participation rate ticked up to 66.7% from 66.6%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment increased by 147,500, or 1.0%.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 100 thousand to 34.410 million in the three months to April 2026, following a 148 thousand increase in the previous period and above forecasts of a 75 thousand gain. This was mainly driven by growth in full-time employment, while part-time work declined over the quarter. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 399 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time and part-time workers, with the rise in full-time employment driven by employees and the increase in part-time work supported by self-employed workers. Despite this, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 remained unchanged at 75.0%, both over the quarter and compared with a year earlier, following a period of relative stability since mid-2024. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs declined to 1.277 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment.

The number of employed persons in the Euro Area grew by 0.1% from the previous quarter to 176.308 million in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from the 0.2% increase in the earlier quarter and aligned with both market expectations and the flash estimate. It was the bloc's 20th consecutive quarter of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, even though high energy prices and sluggish productivity drove the Eurozone's GDP to contract in the period. Job growth remained high in Italy (0.4% vs 0.4% in Q4) and Spain (0.3% vs 0.8%), but stalled in France (from another stall in Q4) and fell for a third quarter in Germany (-0.1% vs -0.1%). From the previous year, employment levels grew 0.5% in the first quarter, the least since the Covid pandemic in 2021.

Employment in Australia fell by 18,600 to a 14.74 million in April 2026, reversing an upwardly revised 23,300 increase in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 17,500 gain. It was the first decline since November, as full-time employment shrank by 10,700 to 10.16 million and part-time employment slid 7,900 to 4.58 million. The employment-to-population ratio remained was down to 63.7% from the prior 63.9, marking the fifth straight month of decline. Meanwhile, the participation rate edged down to 66.7% from the prior 66.8%. On an annual basis, total employment rose by 128,900, or 0.9%.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 148 thousand to 34.392 million in the three months to March 2026, following a downwardly revised 24 thousand increase in the previous period. The reading also topped expectations of a 107 thousand gain and marked the largest job increase since July last year, driven by growth in both full-time and part-time work among employees and the self-employed, with full-time roles contributing most to the overall rise. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 416 thousand. Despite this, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 edged up by just 0.1 percentage points to 75.0%, remaining broadly stable over the year. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs declined to 1.273 million, accounting for 3.7% of those in employment.