Australian unemployment drops to 8.4% in May – the lowest since September 2022 (8.1%)

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Jun-23

In May unemployment dropped 0.1% points to 8.4%, according to the latest Roy Morgan employment series data – the fourth straight monthly drop. Unemployment is now at its lowest since COVID-19 restrictions lifted in late 2022. However, there was a rise in under-employment in May, up 0.9% points to 9.8%, to its highest level this year. The rise in under-employment came as part-time employment increased to 4.86 million – a fourth straight month of increases. The rising cost of living, with high inflation and increasing interest rates, are leading to more Australians in part-time employment needing to work more hours to earn a sufficient income. These people in part-time employment looking for more hours are considered under-employed – now nearly 10% of the workforce. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 8.4% is more than double the ABS estimate of 3.7% for April, and is comparable to the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 9.8%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Australian employment hit a record high above 13.8 million in April as unemployment fell 0.9% to 8.5%

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-May-23

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that the number of Australians who are unemployed fell by 124,000 to 1.29 million (8.5% of the workforce) in April. However, underemployment was up 21,000 to 1.34 million (8.9% of the workforce). A total of 2.63 million Australians (17.4% of the workforce) were unemployed or underemployed in April, down 103,000 from March. Meanwhile, employment increased by 240,000 to 13,814,000 in April. The increase was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 68,000 to a new record high of 9,058,000; part-time employment also increased, up 172,000 to 4,756,000. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 8.5% for April is 5% points higher than the ABS estimate of 3.5% for March and is comparable to the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 9.7%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian full-time employment in March hit a record high of 9 million as unemployment fell 0.7% to 9.4%

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Apr-23

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that the number of Australians who are unemployed fell by 111,000 to 1.41 million (9.4% of the workforce) in March. Underemployment was down 48,000 to 1.32 million (8.8% of the workforce). A total of 2.73 million Australians (18.8% of the workforce) were unemployed or underemployed in March, down 159,000. Meanwhile, employment increased by 57,000 to 13,574,000 in March. The increase was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 41,000 to a new record high of 8,990,000; part-time employment also increased, up 16,000 to 4,584,000. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.4% is almost 6% points higher than the ABS estimate of 3.5% for February and is comparable to the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 9.3%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian full-time employment hit a record high above 8.9 million in February as unemployment falls 0.6% to 10.1%

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-Mar-23

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that the number of Australians who are unemployed fell by 86,000 to 1.52 million (10.1% of the workforce) in February. Underemployment was down 59,000 to 1.37 million (9.1% of the workforce). A total of 2.89 million Australians (19.2% of the workforce) were unemployed or underemployed in February, down 145,000. Meanwhile, employment increased by 99,000 to 13,517,000 in February. The increase was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 48,000 to a new record high of 8,949,000; part-time employment also increased, up 51,000 to 4,568,000. Roy Morgan’s under-employment figure of 9.1% is 3% points higher than the ABS estimate of 6.1% for January. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says that compared to a year ago, the increased immigration and faster population growth than during the pandemic is boosting figures across the workforce. The workforce has grown rapidly over the last year and is up 595,000 to 15,038,000 – driven by both an increase in jobs (up 301,000 to 13,517,000) and a similar-sized increased in unemployment (up 294,000 to 1,521,000).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment jumps to 10.7% in January – highest since JobKeeper ended in March 2021

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Feb-23

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that 1.61 million Australians (10.7% of the workforce) were unemployed in January, up 223,000 from December. The number of Australians looking for full-time work rose by 49,000 to 644,000 in January, while the number of people looking for part-time work rose by 174,000 to 963,000. Some 1.43 million Australians (9.5% of the workforce) were under-employed – working part-time but looking for more work – up 65,000 from December. In total, 3.03 million Australians (20.2% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in January, up 288,000 on December. This is the highest level of combined unemployment and under-employment since February 2021. Meanwhile, employment decreased by 150,000 to 13,418,000 in January. This was driven by a drop in part-time employment (down 280,000 to 4,517,000), while full-time employment increased by 130,000 to 8,901,000. The movements in both full-time and part-time employment were in line with the normal seasonal trends seen at this time of year following the Christmas retailing season. Roy Morgan’s under-employment figure of 9.5% is over 3% points higher than the ABS estimate of 6.1% for December.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment increased to 9.3% in December in line with the usual seasonal trends for this time of the year

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Jan-23

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that 1.38 million Australians (9.3% of the workforce) were unemployed in December, up 46,000 from November. The increase in unemployment was in line with the usual seasonal trends seen at this time of the year as school leavers and university students joined the workforce. The number of Australians looking for full-time work rose 89,000 to 595,000 in December, while the number of people looking for part-time work fell 43,000 to 789,000. Some 1.36 million Australians (9.1% of the workforce) were under-employed – working part-time but looking for more work – down 16,000 from November. In total, 2.74 million Australians (19.4% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in December, up 30,000 on November. Meanwhile, employment decreased by 12,000 to 13,568,000 in December. This was driven by a drop in full-time employment (down 97,000 to 8,771,000), although part-time employment increased in line with the usual seasonal trends (up by 85,000 to 4,797,000). Roy Morgan’s under-employment figure of 9.1% is over 3% points higher than the ABS estimate of 5.8% for November.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment drops to 8.1% in September as employment soars to a record high above 13.7 million

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Oct-22

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that 1.2 million Australians (8.1% of the workforce) were unemployed in September, down 161,000 (1.1%) from August. The number of Australians looking for full-time work fell 57,000 to 535,000 in September, and the number of people looking for part-time work was down 104,000 to 667,000. Some 1.56 million Australians (10.5% of the workforce) were under-employed – working part-time but looking for more work – up 59,000 from August. In total, 2.76 million Australians (18.6% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in September, up 72,000 on August. Meanwhile, employment increased by 218,000 to a record high of 13,705,000 in September. This was driven by a rise in both full-time employment (up 197,000 to 8,881,000) and part-time employment (up 21,000 to a record high of 4,824,000). Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 8.1% for September is more than double the ABS estimate for August of 3.5%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

The Hidden Unemployed must not be ignored at the Jobs & Skills Summit

Original article by Michele Levine
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Aug-22

The latest Roy Morgan unemployment figures for July show that there are 1.25 million Australians out of work and looking for a job (8.5% of the workforce), and another 1.27 million who want to work more hours (8.6% of the workforce). However, the ABS unemployment figures say that only 3.4% of the workforce is unemployed (474,000). The key reason for the difference of over 770,000 people is the way being unemployed is defined. Roy Morgan asks a person who is not in paid employment if they are looking for paid work. If the answer is yes, Roy Morgan considers that person to be unemployed. The ABS classifies a person as unemployed only if, when surveyed, they have been actively looking for work in the four weeks up to the end of the reference week and if they were available for work in the reference week. That means anyone out of work for three weeks is never counted. The ABS also publishes an annual survey on ‘Potential workers’ which much more accurately captures the true level of unemployment in Australia. In late May 2022 the ABS released the latest version of this survey for the month of February. It showed that there were 1.8 million ‘Potential workers’ in Australia and another 900,000 under-employed workers – over 2.7 million Australians either wanting to work or wanting to work more hours. The remarkable aspect of this release is that the figures are so similar to those from Roy Morgan. These extra potential workers should not be forgotten in the deliberations at the federal government’s Jobs & Skills Summit.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment increases to 8.5% in July as workforce swells to 14.7 million Australians

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Aug-22

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that 1.25 million Australians (8.5% of the workforce) were unemployed in July, up 121,000 (0.7%) from June. The number of Australians looking for full-time work was up 85,000 to 494,000 in July, and the number of people looking for part-time work was up 36,000 to 752,000. Some 1.27 million Australians (8.6% of the workforce) were under-employed – working part-time but looking for more work – up 44,000 from June. In total, 2.52 million Australians (17.1% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in July, up 165,000 on June. Meanwhile, employment increased by 74,000 to 13,440,000 in July, driven by an increase in full-time employment (up 8,000 to 8,884,000); part-time employment rose by 66,000 to 4,556,000. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 8.5% for July is more than double the ABS estimate for June of 3.5%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment increases to 9.2% in October – as over 12 million Australians are released from long lockdowns

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Nov-21

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows that 1.32 million Australians were unemployed in October, up 55,000 on September, for an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Driving the increase was more people looking for part-time work (up 114,000 to 849,000) while there was a decrease in people looking for full-time work (down 59,000 to 471,000). Some 1.23 million Australians (8.6% of the workforce) were under-employed – working part-time but looking for more work, an increase of 64,000 (up 0.6% points) on September. In total, 2.55 million Australians (17.8% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in October, an increase of 119,000 on September. Meanwhile, employment dropped 289,000 to 13,019,000 in October, driven by the decrease in part-time employment (down 379,000 to 4,281,000 – the lowest since August 2020). In contrast, full-time employment increased by 90,000 in October to 8,738,000. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.2% for October is over 4% points higher than the current ABS estimate for September 2021 of 4.6%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS