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. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Unemployment Rate in Australia increased to 4.50 percent in April from 4.30 percent in March 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 May of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Australia increased to 4.50 percent in April from 4.30 percent in March of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Australia is expected to be 4.40 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 4.70 percent in 2027 and 4.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-16 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.3% 4.3% 4.3% 4.2%
2026-05-21 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 4.5% 4.3% 4.3% 4.3%
2026-06-18 01:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 4.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14737.40 14756.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Employment Change -18630.00 23331.00 Persons Apr 2026
Employment Rate 63.70 63.90 percent Apr 2026
Full Time Employment Chg -10701.00 63352.00 Persons Apr 2026
Job Vacancies 337.90 329.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Participation Rate 66.70 66.80 percent Apr 2026
Labour Costs 107.90 107.40 points Dec 2025
Part Time Employment Chg -7929.00 -40021.00 Persons Apr 2026
Population 27.70 27.40 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 100.10 100.10 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 692.50 659.50 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.50 4.30 percent Apr 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 11.10 10.20 percent Apr 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
4.50 4.30 11.20 3.40 1978 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
Australia Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Rises
Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in February 2026, exceeding both the 4.1% forecast and levels seen in the previous two months. This marked the highest reading since November, as the number of unemployed increased by 35,000 to a three-month high of 659,100 from 624,200 in January. Those seeking full-time work grew by 31,000 to 433,000, and part-time job seekers edged up 3,900 to 226,100. Meanwhile, employment climbed 48,900 to a new peak of 14.75 million, easily beating estimates of a 20,300 increase and after an upwardly revised 26,000 gain in January. Part-time employment jumped 79,400 to 4.63 million, but full-time employment declined 30,500 to 10.12 million. The participation rate hit a four-month high of 66.9%, compared with estimates and December's 66.7%. The underemployment rate held steady at 5.9%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs eased 3 million to 2,007 million.
2026-03-19