Loss of payroll jobs greatest in Victoria

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Released
28/07/2020
Source
Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia, Week ending 11 July 2020

Total payroll jobs decreased by 1.1 per cent in Australia between mid-June and mid-July according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

In Victoria, payroll jobs decreased by 2.2 per cent between mid-June and mid-July as additional COVID-19 restrictions were progressively introduced, with jobs 7.3 per cent below mid-March in this state.

Bjorn Jarvis, head of Labour Statistics at the ABS, said, “Nationally, payroll jobs are 5.6 per cent below mid-March, when Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case.”

Payroll job losses in other states and territories since mid-March ranged from a 6.8 per cent decrease in Tasmania to a 3.1 per cent decrease in Western Australia.

“The latest data shows that around 35 per cent of lost payroll jobs had been regained by mid-July,” Mr Jarvis said.

Change in payroll jobs between 14 March and 11 July, by state and territory

Change in payroll jobs between 14 March and 11 July, by State and Territory
This map shows groups most impacted by changes in payroll jobs in each state and territory. • Calculated based on payroll data from 14 March to 11 July. • Nationally, payroll jobs have decreased by 5.6%. The most affected industry is accommodation and food services (-18.1%). • In Northern Territory, payroll jobs have decreased by 3.7%. The most affected industry is mining (-10.9%). • In Western Australia, payroll jobs have decreased by 3.1%. The most industry is accommodation and food services (-13.6%). • In South Australia, payroll jobs have decreased by 5.5%. The most affected industry is arts and recreation services (-21.8%). • In Tasmania, payroll jobs have decreased by 6.8% The most affected industry is accommodation and food services (-18.6%). • In Queensland, payroll jobs have decreased by 5.0% The most affected industry is accommodation and food services (-16.5%). • In New South Wales, payroll jobs have decreased by 5.3%. The most affected industry is arts and recreation services (-18.1%). • In Australian Capital Territory, payroll jobs have decreased by 6.4%. The most affected industry is accommodation and food services (-19.8%). • In Victoria, payroll jobs have decreased by 7.3%. The most affected industry is accommodation and food services (-24.4%).

“Arts and recreation services showed more recovery than any other industry from mid-June to mid-July (7.5 per cent), however it continues to be one of the most impacted industries during the COVID-19 period (16.3 per cent decrease since mid-March),” Mr Jarvis said.

Further information is available in Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia (cat. no. 6160.0.55.001).

The ABS would like to acknowledge the continued support from the Australian Taxation Office in enabling the ABS to produce the statistics, providing weekly insights into the Australian labour market.

Media notes

  • This release includes information on payroll jobs where a payment was made in the reference week through Single Touch Payroll enabled software and reported to the Australian Taxation Office.
  • While the ABS accounts for employees being paid with different frequencies, there are points in the year when additional reporting activity is more likely to occur, which may flow through to published estimates.
  • Jobs by Statistical Area 4 estimates through to the week ending 11 July will be added to his release on Wednesday 29 July 2020.
  • An interactive map examining change in payroll jobs through 2020 will be added to this release on Thursday 30 July 2020.
  • The additional ABS products being published to understand the economic impact of the coronavirus can be found on the ABS COVID-19 page.
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source. 
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team on 1300 175 070 (8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri).
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