More people working multiple jobs in September quarter

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Released
9/12/2020
Source
Labour Account Australia, September 2020

The number of multiple job holders in Australia (people who work more than one job at the same time) increased by 17.5 per cent in the September quarter, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Bjorn Jarvis, head of Labour Statistics at the ABS, said: “The multiple job holding rate increased to 5.7 per cent of all employed people in the September quarter, rebounding from a record low of 4.9 per cent in the June quarter."

“This recovery in secondary jobs was a key contributor in the 1.7 per cent increase in filled jobs between the June and September quarters.”

Many of these secondary jobs are worked in industries that have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, particularly in the June quarter, such as the Administrative and support services industry. Despite the increase in the September quarter, total secondary jobs in the labour market were still 6.3 per cent below the March quarter.

“The improvement in the labour market seen in the September quarter Labour Account data echoes the recovery seen in other indicators, such as the Labour Force Survey and payroll jobs data. Today’s data provides a picture of the extent of recovery across industries in the labour market, following the release of the National Accounts last week.” said Mr Jarvis.

The Labour Account is the best source of headline information on employment by industry and sector, drawing upon the broad range of labour market statistics the ABS produces. It contains a range of key indicators for jobs, people, hours, and payments back to September quarter 1994.

Further information is available in Labour Account Australia.

Media notes

  • The Australian Labour Account complements other ABS measures to build a more comprehensive picture of the labour market. Labour Account data provides the number of filled jobs at a point-in-time each quarter, while the Jobs in Australia data provides insights into all jobs held throughout the year, and Labour Force Survey data measures the number of people employed each month.
  • Data contained in this media release refer to seasonally adjusted estimates, unless otherwise stated.
  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media team via media@abs.gov.au (8.30 am - 5pm Mon-Fri AEDT).
  • A glossary of terms used in this media release is available with the publication.
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