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
Job ads jump to 3-year high
Australian businesses are continuing to look for new staff, with job ads rising for the ninth consecutive month, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
ACTU pushes for part-time retail hours
Businesses and unions have struck a deal to increase the hours for part-time employees, which they state will increase flexibility for businesses and certainty for workers. ...Read more
Salary
Low-paid jobs recovery hits wages growth
The average weekly pay of a full-time worker has fallen narrowly in November 2020, official stats have revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Unions call for ‘Aviation Keeper’ lifeline as Qantas posts $1.03bn loss
Australia’s national airline has posted a $1.03 billion half-yearly loss before tax, with the airline’s union calling for an extension of the JobKeeper program to support workers. ...Read more
Salary
IR reforms to ‘suppress wages for years to come’
Unions have hit out at the proposed industrial relations law, approved recently by the lower house, arguing it would leave workers worse off with cuts to take-home pay and conditions, few rights and ...Read more
Salary
JobSeeker rise a ‘half-arsed PR exercise’
The federal government’s plan to permanently increase JobSeeker by $50 a fortnight has been slammed by industry experts for leaving 1.2 million Australians at the mercy of poverty. ...Read more
Salary
Why 1.5m Australians could be out of work by 2030
One and a half million Australians are set to lose their jobs to automation by 2030 as technology overtakes traditional workers, a new report has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
UK’s top court declares Uber drivers ‘workers’ in landmark case
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Uber must clarify its drivers as workers instead of independent contractors, which could have major implications for the gig economy worldwide. ...Read more
Salary
Job ads jump to 3-year high
Australian businesses are continuing to look for new staff, with job ads rising for the ninth consecutive month, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
ACTU pushes for part-time retail hours
Businesses and unions have struck a deal to increase the hours for part-time employees, which they state will increase flexibility for businesses and certainty for workers. ...Read more
Salary
Low-paid jobs recovery hits wages growth
The average weekly pay of a full-time worker has fallen narrowly in November 2020, official stats have revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Unions call for ‘Aviation Keeper’ lifeline as Qantas posts $1.03bn loss
Australia’s national airline has posted a $1.03 billion half-yearly loss before tax, with the airline’s union calling for an extension of the JobKeeper program to support workers. ...Read more
Salary
IR reforms to ‘suppress wages for years to come’
Unions have hit out at the proposed industrial relations law, approved recently by the lower house, arguing it would leave workers worse off with cuts to take-home pay and conditions, few rights and ...Read more
Salary
JobSeeker rise a ‘half-arsed PR exercise’
The federal government’s plan to permanently increase JobSeeker by $50 a fortnight has been slammed by industry experts for leaving 1.2 million Australians at the mercy of poverty. ...Read more
Salary
Why 1.5m Australians could be out of work by 2030
One and a half million Australians are set to lose their jobs to automation by 2030 as technology overtakes traditional workers, a new report has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
UK’s top court declares Uber drivers ‘workers’ in landmark case
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Uber must clarify its drivers as workers instead of independent contractors, which could have major implications for the gig economy worldwide. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
