Earn
100k+ jobs boost isn’t all good news
More than 100,000 jobs have unexpectedly been added to the economy, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
100k+ jobs boost isn’t all good news
More than 100,000 jobs have unexpectedly been added to the economy, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In its latest Labour Force data, seasonally adjusted employment rose by 111,000 (0.9 per cent) between July and August.
The new figures mean unemployment has decreased by 87,000 – a 0.7 per cent improvement to the unemployment rate, which now sits at 6.8 per cent.
Women are reportedly leading the charge, with 55,000 of the new jobs added attributed to female workforce participation.
Despite the new jobs, hours worked saw a far more modest increase of 0.1 per cent.
It means underemployment figures remain at 11.2 per cent – 2.4 per cent above the March quarter.
ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis attributed much of the residual unemployment and underemployment figures to the situation in Victoria.
He said, “Hours fell by 4.8 per cent in Victoria, compared to a 1.8 per cent increase across the rest of Australia.”
Victoria has also borne the brunt of unemployment – reporting a decrease of 42,400 jobs.
Across the rest of Australia, an increase in hours of 1.8 per cent was recorded, with Mr Jarvis stating it was reflective of “the strength of the increase in part-time employment between May and August, which has been almost eight times greater than the increase in full-time employment”.
Dr Sarah Hunter, the chief economist for BIS Oxford Economics, has reflected on the “surprisingly resilient” nature of employment, despite Melbourne’s stage 4 lockdown weighing heavily on the economy.
“Despite the positive employment print, the impact of restrictions in Victoria is clear,” she acknowledged.
Overall, the results have led the economist to consider that “the fall in the unemployment rate suggests that the peak at the end of the year may be lower than current estimates”.
“But this outcome would understate the impact of the pandemic, given the fall in the participation rate and the increase in the underutilisation rate (which remained above 11 per cent in August).”
She said both of these trends will need to be reversed through the recovery period.
In addition, the economist flagged that “this much spare capacity in the labour market will weigh heavily on wages growth for at least the next year”.
About the author
About the author
Salary
Rules for JobKeeper 2.0 confirmed
The Australian government has announced the new rules governing the extension of the JobKeeper payment starting from 28 September 2020. ...Read more
Salary
Wage theft could put Qld bosses behind bars for 10 years
Queensland bosses who skip out on super payments or underpay their employees’ wages can now end up in jail, with wage theft now criminalised in the state. ...Read more
Salary
Millions in compensation payments delayed, ALA finds
Centrelink delays are preventing vulnerable families from accessing millions of dollars locked in insurers’ trust accounts, a national legal body has found. ...Read more
Salary
1.3m employees to lose JobKeeper at month’s end
According to the Treasury’s estimates, over 2.2 million Australians will remain on the JobKeeper program beyond 27 September, down from the current 3.5 million. ...Read more
Salary
Not so equal pay day
Despite today being equal pay day, new research has shown that women are still making 14 per cent less than their male counterparts, leading to longer-term financial instability. ...Read more
Salary
It’s now twice as hard to land a job in 2020
For every job opening on LinkedIn, there are now 40 people vying for the role, a 50 per cent increase in applicants since January 2020. ...Read more
Salary
Pandemic puts 4-year hurdle in the way of pay equality
The time frame for gender economic equality has been blown out to 36 years, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest Financy Women’s Index. ...Read more
Salary
JobSeekers, pensioners denied September boost
Australians relying on government benefits, including pensions and JobSeeker payments, will have to wait another six months to see their entitlements raised due to a weakening economy, the Department...Read more
Salary
Rules for JobKeeper 2.0 confirmed
The Australian government has announced the new rules governing the extension of the JobKeeper payment starting from 28 September 2020. ...Read more
Salary
Wage theft could put Qld bosses behind bars for 10 years
Queensland bosses who skip out on super payments or underpay their employees’ wages can now end up in jail, with wage theft now criminalised in the state. ...Read more
Salary
Millions in compensation payments delayed, ALA finds
Centrelink delays are preventing vulnerable families from accessing millions of dollars locked in insurers’ trust accounts, a national legal body has found. ...Read more
Salary
1.3m employees to lose JobKeeper at month’s end
According to the Treasury’s estimates, over 2.2 million Australians will remain on the JobKeeper program beyond 27 September, down from the current 3.5 million. ...Read more
Salary
Not so equal pay day
Despite today being equal pay day, new research has shown that women are still making 14 per cent less than their male counterparts, leading to longer-term financial instability. ...Read more
Salary
It’s now twice as hard to land a job in 2020
For every job opening on LinkedIn, there are now 40 people vying for the role, a 50 per cent increase in applicants since January 2020. ...Read more
Salary
Pandemic puts 4-year hurdle in the way of pay equality
The time frame for gender economic equality has been blown out to 36 years, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest Financy Women’s Index. ...Read more
Salary
JobSeekers, pensioners denied September boost
Australians relying on government benefits, including pensions and JobSeeker payments, will have to wait another six months to see their entitlements raised due to a weakening economy, the Department...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
