Overall Australian unemployment and under-employment at 3.34 million in November – 12 months straight above 3 million

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Dec-25

In November 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment was virtually unchanged at 1,628,000 (10.2% of the workforce). There were fewer people looking for full-time work (down 89,000 to 599,000), which was largely offset by the rise in people looking for part-time work (up 80,000 to 1,029,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.71 million Australians (10.7% of the workforce, up 0.3%) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (63,000 from October). In total 3.34 million Australians (20.9% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in November. Meanwhile, employment increased by 119,000 to 14,339,000; Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at 15,967,000 in November, up 110,000 on a month ago, and representing 68.8% of Australians aged 14+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

In August Australian unemployment increased 0.8% to 11.1%, while under-employment was unchanged at 10.9%

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Sep-25

In August 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment rose by 132,000 to 1,776,000 (up 0.8% to 11.1% of the workforce). The rise in unemployment was driven by more people looking for part-time work (up 152,000 to 1,101,000), although there were fewer people looking for full-time work (down 20,000 to 675,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.74 million Australians (10.9% of the workforce, unchanged) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 5,000 from July). In total, 3.52 million Australians (22.0% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in August. Meanwhile, employment dropped 70,000 to 14,216,000; Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at 15,992,000 in August, up 62,000 on a month ago, and representing 69.2% of Australians aged 14+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

In July Australian unemployment was virtually unchanged at 10.3%, but under-employment surged to 10.9%

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 13-Aug-25

In July 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment fell by 10,000 to 1,644,000 (down 0.1% to 10.3% of the workforce). The small dip in unemployment was driven by fewer people looking for part-time work (down 157,000 to 949,000), which was offset by people looking for full-time work (up 147,000 to 695,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.74 million Australians (up 1% to 10.9% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 158,000 from June). In total, 3.38 million Australians (21.2% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in July. Meanwhile, Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at 15,930,000 in July, up 43,000 on a month ago, and representing 69% of Australians aged 14+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

In June Australian unemployment dropped to 10.4% driven by rise in new jobs – especially full-time jobs

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jul-25

In June 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment fell by 61,000 to 1,654,000 (down 0.5% to 10.4% of the workforce), a second straight monthly fall. The decrease in unemployment was driven by fewer people looking for both full-time work (down 18,000 to 548,000) and part-time work (down 43,000 to 1,106,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.58 million Australians (9.9% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 143,000 from May). In total, 3.23 million Australians (20.3% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in June. Meanwhile, Roy Morgan estimates that the overall workforce size (which adds together both the employed and unemployed) at 15,887,000 in June, up 147,000 on a month ago and representing 68.8% of Australians aged 14+. Employment increased by 208,000 to 14,233,000; this was driven by a significant increase in full-time employment (up 229,000 to 9,211,000); however, part-time employment dropped 21,000 to 5,022,000.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

In April Australian unemployment increased to 11.2% driven primarily by more people joining the workforce

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 14-May-25

In April 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased by 176,000 to 1,780,000 (up 1%, to 11.2% of the workforce), with more people joining the workforce and overall employment dropping. The expansion in the workforce was the main driver of the increase in unemployment with 156,000 people joining the workforce, lifting the number of Australians in the workforce to 15,946,000 (69.4% of Australians aged 14+). Overall employment fell slightly by 20,000 to 14,166,000; the decrease was driven by a drop in full-time employment (down 291,000 to 9,094,000), although part-time employment grew 271,000 to 5,072,000. In addition to the unemployed, 1.47 million Australians (9.2% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 43,000 from March). In total 3.25 million Australians (20.4% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in April. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 11.2% is clearly more than double the ABS estimate of 4.1% for March, but is in line with the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.0%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

In March Australian unemployment dropped to 10.2% as both full-time and part-time employment grew

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Apr-25

In March 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment fell 230,000 to 1,604,000 (down 1.3% to 10.2% of the workforce), with significantly fewer people looking for work. The decrease in unemployment was driven by full-time employment (up 29,000 to 9,385,000) and part-time employment (up 34,000 to 4,801,000). However, the Australian workforce dropped 167,000 to 15,790,000 as many of those unemployed decided to leave the workforce. In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.43 million Australians (9.1% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, down 199,000 from February. In total, 3.03 million Australians (19.3% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in March. Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 10.2% is clearly more than double the ABS estimate of 4.1% for February, and is in line with the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.0%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

In January Australian unemployment increased to 10.1% due to a growing workforce with not all new entrants finding jobs

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Feb-25

In January 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased 78,000 to 1,620,000 (up 0.4% to 10.1% of the workforce) with more people looking for both part-time and full-time work. The Australian workforce increased by 297,000 to a record high of 16,115,000 with unemployment up 78,000 to 1,620,000 and employment up 219,000 to 14,495,000. The increase in unemployment was driven by rises in people looking for part-time work (up 36,000 to 837,000), and people looking for full-time work (up 42,000 to 783,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.81 million Australians (11.3% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, up 137,000 from December – a new record high level of under-employment. In total 3.43 million Australians (21.4% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in January – the highest combined figure since June 2020.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

In December Australian unemployment increased to 9.7% as overall employment dropped by 150,000

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Jan-25

In December 2024, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased by 180,000 to 1,542,000 (up 1.1% to 9.7% of the workforce), with many fewer people in part-time employment following the Black Friday sales period in November. In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.68 million Australians (10.6% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 132,000 from November to a new record high). In total, 3.22 million Australians (20.3% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in December; this is the highest combined figure since August 2020. Meanwhile, Australian employment fell by 154,000 to 14,276,000; this decrease was driven by a fall in part-time employment (down 210,000 to 4,953,000 following the Black Friday sales period), while full-time employment increased by 56,000 to 9,323,000. The total workforce in December was 15,818,000 (up 26,000 from November, and up 866,000 from two years ago). Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.7% is clearly more than double the ABS estimate of 3.9% for November, but it is approaching the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.3%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

In November Australian unemployment dropped to 8.6% as employment grew by over 180,000 to a new record high

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Dec-24

In November 2024, Australian ‘real’ unemployment dropped 88,000 to 1,362,000 (down 0.6% to 8.6% of the workforce), with many of these people finding employment. In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.54 million Australians (9.8% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, up 68,000 from October. In total, 2.91 million Australians (18.4% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in November. Meanwhile, Australian employment increased 183,000 to 14,430,000; this increase was driven by a rise in part-time employment, up 420,000 to 5,163,000 as the pre-Christmas and Black Friday sales period kicked off, but full-time employment decreased 237,000 to 9,267,000. The total workforce in November was 15,792,000 (up 95,000 from October, and up 874,000 from two years ago). Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 8.6% for October is more than double the ABS estimate of 4.1% for October but is approaching the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.3%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

In October Australian unemployment dropped to 9.2% as full-time employment grew and over 100,000 left the workforce

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 13-Nov-24

In October 2024, Australian ‘real’ unemployment dropped 60,000 to 1,450,000 (down 0.3% to 9.2% of the workforce), as over 100,000 people left the workforce. In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.48 million Australians (9.4% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, up 22,000 from September. In total, 2.93 million Australians (18.6% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in October. Australian employment dropped 58,000 to 14,247,000; this decrease was driven by a fall in part-time employment (down 190,000 to 4,743,000), but full-time employment increased 132,000 to a new record high of 9,504,000. The total workforce in October was 15,697,000 (down 118,000 from September, but up 867,000 from two years ago). Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.2% for October is more than double the ABS estimate of 4.1% for September, but it is approaching the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.4%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS