24.09.202601:38:20UTC+00Australia Jobless Rate at Near 5-Year High

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.6% in August, exceeding both market expectations and July’s 4.5% reading. This was the highest level since November 2021, as the number of unemployed increased by 28,200 to 722,900—its highest in five years—from 694,700 in July. Within this total, the number of unemployed part-time workers increased by 12,500 to 242,000, while the number of unemployed full-time workers grew by 15,700 to 481,000.

Overall employment expanded by 39,500 to 14.84 million, beating forecasts for a 20,000 gain and following an upwardly revised loss of 15,900 jobs in July. Part-time employment rose by 45,800 to 4.64 million, whereas full-time employment slipped by 6,300 to 10.19 million.

The participation rate edged up to 67.1%, above both expectations and July’s 66.9%, and was the highest since April 2025. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate eased to 6.2%, down from 6.3% in July.