Labour Force, Australia, April 2020

		Mar 20	Apr 20	Monthly change	Yearly change
Seasonally adjusted
	Employed people	13,013,000	12,418,700	-594,300	-3.1%
	Unemployed people	718,800	823,300	104,500	16.7%
	Unemployment rate	5.2%	6.2%	1.0 pts	1.0 pts
	Underemployment rate	8.8%	13.7%	4.9 pts	5.2 pts
	Participation rate	66.0%	63.5%	-2.4 pts	-2.3 pts
	Monthly hours worked in all jobs	1,790 million	1,626 million	-164 million	-8.0%

Estimates of changes are calculated using un-rounded level estimates, and may be different from, but are more accurate than, movements obtained from the rounded level estimates.

COVID-19 impacts and changes

Major impacts on the labour market

Suspension of trend series and changes to seasonal adjustment

Time series and sudden changes in the labour market

Trend and seasonally adjusted Labour Force Survey estimates are important for understanding the current state of the labour market, and providing medium and long-term signals.

However, unusual, sudden and/or extreme changes in the labour market (e.g. changes to regular and seasonal patterns in employment, working hours, job search or availability as a result of COVID-19) can be difficult to account for in the short-term in both seasonal adjustment and trend estimation processes.

Suspension of trend estimates

The Labour Force trend series have been suspended from April 2020, until more certainty emerges in the underlying trend in labour market activity over the COVID-19 period. This is in recognition of the time series shocks in the labour market between the March 2020 and April 2020 data points. While trend estimates are generally the best measure of the underlying behaviour of the labour market, any large changes in the labour market as a result of COVID-19 will likely make it difficult to estimate a reliable short-term indicator of the trend.

Existing spreadsheets containing trend, seasonally adjusted and original data will continue to be published in the same format, however trend columns will be populated with ‘nca’.

For the NT and ACT, seasonally adjusted data will be published in separate spreadsheets for the duration of time that the trend series are suspended.

Changes in the seasonal adjustment process

During the COVID-19 period the ABS will use forward seasonal factors to produce seasonally adjusted estimates, rather than the standard concurrent seasonal factors method. The forward factors approach is better suited to managing large movements at the end point of series and will ensure that large movements do not have a disproportionate influence on the seasonal factors.

For a more detailed discussion on the implications of unusual events on time series, see When it's not "business-as-usual": Implications for ABS Time Series.

Future changes

Once further data are available, trend and/or seasonal breaks may be estimated and applied to improve published labour force time series estimates.

The ABS will also provide regular updates on the status of trend and seasonally adjusted estimates, with a view to returning to concurrent seasonal factors at the most appropriate point.

Net Overseas Migration revisions in LFS benchmarks

To ensure the ongoing production of fit for purpose official statistics through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABS has been assessing the likely impact of changed traveller behaviour on preliminary Net Overseas Migration (NOM) estimates. These NOM estimates feed into Australia's official population estimates and, in turn, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) benchmarks.

The ABS uses the '12/16 month rule' when measuring NOM, with estimates first published as preliminary, and then revised after 12 months. To estimate preliminary NOM, a propensity model is used based on the likelihood a traveller will remain in Australia for the next 12 out of 16 months. After 16 months, when the outcome is known, NOM can be finalised (reflected as revisions within the Estimated Resident Population (ERP)).

Historically, the model which underpins preliminary NOM performs well and these revisions are generally small. This model draws on the behaviour of travellers with similar characteristics from 12 month previously, which is usually a strong predictor of the outcomes of those arriving in the same month of the following year. The same process applies to departures.

However, due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the relationship between traveller behaviour in 2020 and that of 12 months ago is unlikely to hold, potentially leading to larger revisions. As a result, preliminary NOM data will now be revised every quarter, instead of the current approach of revising once after four quarters.

These more frequent revisions will ensure the most timely and accurate data are fed into ERP, and into LFS benchmarks.

This new approach to revisions will be implemented into:

NOM and ERP in respect of the December quarter 2019 – due for release in Australian Demographic Statistics on 18 June 2020; and
labour force estimates (as part of the quarterly rebenchmarking process) in respect of May 2020 onwards – due for release in Labour Force, Australia on 18 June 2020.

This quarterly approach to NOM revisions will be reviewed after four quarters.

Labour Force Survey response

Treatment of people on JobKeeper, JobSeeker or stood down

People paid through the JobKeeper wage subsidy, in receipt of JobSeeker payments, or stood down by their employer are classified as follows in the Labour Force Survey. This approach:

is consistent with the long-standing concepts and practices used in the Labour Force Survey; and
has not resulted in any changes to the Labour Force Survey questionnaire.

The ABS will update this information if new scenarios emerge or the conditions of existing scenarios change over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. People paid through the JobKeeper wage subsidy: employed

The ABS expects that people who are paid through the JobKeeper scheme will answer the questions in a way that results in them being classified as employed, regardless of the hours they work (e.g. even if they are stood down). People paid through JobKeeper may work less hours, the same hours, or more hours, than usual.

Under the JobKeeper program, eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations affected by COVID-19 can elect to receive a subsidy to support their employment of eligible employees. Some self-employed people are also eligible to receive the JobKeeper payment.

Employers will pay these employees a wage, within their existing employment relationship, supporting an ongoing attachment to a job.

People stood down without pay from late March through to early May were away from their job for four weeks or more and therefore were no longer considered employed in May. This explains part of the further fall in employment in May.

2. People in receipt of the JobSeeker payment: it depends on their labour market activity

People who receive the JobSeeker or other similar government payments are not automatically classified as unemployed (just as those classified as unemployed will not necessarily be in receipt of a government payment) and how they are categorised depends on how they answer questions around labour market activity.

The JobSeeker payment is paid to people who are looking for work or are sick or injured and cannot undertake their usual work or study for a short time, and who meet the eligibility requirements. People can also receive the JobSeeker payment if they have a job, if they meet a low income test.

Recent changes to the JobSeeker program related to COVID-19 also meant that recipients did not have to meet the usual mutual obligation requirements, such as looking for work. Some of these obligations are gradually being reinstated from June onwards, and changes may lead to increases in active job search and an increase in the number of people classified as unemployed in future months.

To be classified as unemployed in Labour Force statistics, a person must:

have actively looked for full-time or part-time work in the last four weeks; and
be available for work in the reference week.

People who were waiting to start a new job within four weeks from the end of the reference week and could have started in the reference week if the job had been available then are also classified as unemployed.

3. People not working any hours, including those who were stood down: it depends on their job attachment and pay, and potentially other labour market activity

A person will be classified as employed if they:

had taken any kind of paid leave;
were away from their job for any reason (e.g. they were stood down), and were paid for some part of the previous 4 weeks (which could include wages subsidised through the JobKeeper scheme); or
were away from their job for four weeks or less for any reason, without pay, but believe they still have a job to go back to (e.g. they were stood down, with no pay).

If a person is away from their job for four weeks or more without pay, or they believe they no longer have a job to be absent from, they will be classified as:

unemployed - if they have actively looked for work, and are available to start work; or
not in the labour force - if they have not looked for work and/or are not available to start work.

There will be a range of ways in which people will have been stood down without work as a result of COVID-19. Some may be stood down with pay, some through paid leave (e.g. long service leave, annual leave, etc) and some without pay. Some people will perceive that they still have a job (but just no hours at the moment), while others will consider they have lost their job.

These differences are effectively captured using Labour Force Survey questions, which support the ABS to effectively categorise people and produce key measures of the labour market.

For further information, please email labour.statistics@abs.gov.au.

Articles

This months Labour Force release includes the following articles:

Unemployment

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020:

the unemployment rate increased by 1.0 pts to 6.2% (1.0 pts higher than a year ago)
unemployed people increased by 104,500 to 823,300 (and increased by 117,700 over the year to April 2020)
the youth unemployment rate increased by 2.2 pts to 13.8% (and increased 1.9 pts over the year to April 2020)

Unemployment rate
	Seasonally adjusted (%)
Apr-10	5.5
May-10	5.2
Jun-10	5.1
Jul-10	5.3
Aug-10	5.0
Sep-10	5.1
Oct-10	5.3
Nov-10	5.1
Dec-10	4.9
Jan-11	5.0
Feb-11	5.0
Mar-11	4.9
Apr-11	5.0
May-11	5.0
Jun-11	4.9
Jul-11	5.1
Aug-11	5.3
Sep-11	5.2
Oct-11	5.2
Nov-11	5.2
Dec-11	5.2
Jan-12	5.0
Feb-12	5.2
Mar-12	5.2
Apr-12	5.0
May-12	5.2
Jun-12	5.2
Jul-12	5.2
Aug-12	5.1
Sep-12	5.5
Oct-12	5.4
Nov-12	5.3
Dec-12	5.4
Jan-13	5.4
Feb-13	5.4
Mar-13	5.6
Apr-13	5.6
May-13	5.6
Jun-13	5.7
Jul-13	5.6
Aug-13	5.8
Sep-13	5.7
Oct-13	5.8
Nov-13	5.8
Dec-13	5.9
Jan-14	5.9
Feb-14	5.9
Mar-14	5.9
Apr-14	5.8
May-14	5.9
Jun-14	6.0
Jul-14	6.2
Aug-14	6.1
Sep-14	6.2
Oct-14	6.4
Nov-14	6.3
Dec-14	6.1
Jan-15	6.3
Feb-15	6.1
Mar-15	6.1
Apr-15	6.1
May-15	5.9
Jun-15	6.0
Jul-15	6.3
Aug-15	6.1
Sep-15	6.2
Oct-15	5.9
Nov-15	5.9
Dec-15	5.7
Jan-16	6.0
Feb-16	5.7
Mar-16	5.6
Apr-16	5.6
May-16	5.7
Jun-16	5.7
Jul-16	5.7
Aug-16	5.6
Sep-16	5.6
Oct-16	5.6
Nov-16	5.8
Dec-16	5.8
Jan-17	5.7
Feb-17	5.8
Mar-17	5.8
Apr-17	5.6
May-17	5.6
Jun-17	5.6
Jul-17	5.6
Aug-17	5.5
Sep-17	5.4
Oct-17	5.4
Nov-17	5.4
Dec-17	5.6
Jan-18	5.5
Feb-18	5.6
Mar-18	5.5
Apr-18	5.5
May-18	5.4
Jun-18	5.3
Jul-18	5.3
Aug-18	5.3
Sep-18	5.0
Oct-18	5.0
Nov-18	5.1
Dec-18	5.0
Jan-19	5.0
Feb-19	5.0
Mar-19	5.1
Apr-19	5.2
May-19	5.2
Jun-19	5.3
Jul-19	5.3
Aug-19	5.3
Sep-19	5.2
Oct-19	5.3
Nov-19	5.2
Dec-19	5.1
Jan-20	5.3
Feb-20	5.1
Mar-20	5.2
Apr-20	6.2

Unemployment rate

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

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Employment

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020:

employment decreased by 594,300 (-4.6%) to 12,418,700 people
over the year to April 2020, employment decreased by 3.1% or 395,100 people

Underpinning these net changes in employment is extensive change which occurs in the labour market. In recent months there has generally been considerably more than 300,000 people entering employment, and more than 300,000 leaving employment each month. There are also changes in the hours that people work, which can have an impact on the full-time and part-time composition of employment.

Employed persons
	Seasonally adjusted ('000)
Apr-10	10,937.3
May-10	10,938.5
Jun-10	10,992.7
Jul-10	11,019.0
Aug-10	11,060.1
Sep-10	11,088.1
Oct-10	11,104.3
Nov-10	11,162.7
Dec-10	11,168.3
Jan-11	11,199.8
Feb-11	11,175.8
Mar-11	11,215.1
Apr-11	11,182.6
May-11	11,172.1
Jun-11	11,205.8
Jul-11	11,209.7
Aug-11	11,216.7
Sep-11	11,247.3
Oct-11	11,249.1
Nov-11	11,252.3
Dec-11	11,230.7
Jan-12	11,305.5
Feb-12	11,271.8
Mar-12	11,333.3
Apr-12	11,322.3
May-12	11,363.7
Jun-12	11,339.0
Jul-12	11,348.9
Aug-12	11,356.8
Sep-12	11,391.7
Oct-12	11,390.9
Nov-12	11,384.7
Dec-12	11,395.5
Jan-13	11,464.3
Feb-13	11,469.1
Mar-13	11,434.9
Apr-13	11,468.1
May-13	11,457.8
Jun-13	11,470.9
Jul-13	11,457.7
Aug-13	11,453.8
Sep-13	11,476.4
Oct-13	11,470.4
Nov-13	11,448.4
Dec-13	11,417.8
Jan-14	11,455.0
Feb-14	11,481.9
Mar-14	11,531.9
Apr-14	11,538.7
May-14	11,514.0
Jun-14	11,529.8
Jul-14	11,545.4
Aug-14	11,545.1
Sep-14	11,546.4
Oct-14	11,542.2
Nov-14	11,543.8
Dec-14	11,597.3
Jan-15	11,607.9
Feb-15	11,673.2
Mar-15	11,693.7
Apr-15	11,693.3
May-15	11,734.9
Jun-15	11,728.1
Jul-15	11,760.6
Aug-15	11,772.1
Sep-15	11,783.1
Oct-15	11,860.6
Nov-15	11,895.5
Dec-15	11,905.9
Jan-16	11,910.2
Feb-16	11,927.2
Mar-16	11,942.5
Apr-16	11,948.5
May-16	11,944.2
Jun-16	11,963.5
Jul-16	11,996.4
Aug-16	11,971.8
Sep-16	11,952.9
Oct-16	11,986.0
Nov-16	12,011.4
Dec-16	12,036.6
Jan-17	12,055.0
Feb-17	12,058.5
Mar-17	12,119.3
Apr-17	12,169.2
May-17	12,195.0
Jun-17	12,225.5
Jul-17	12,259.4
Aug-17	12,312.6
Sep-17	12,342.7
Oct-17	12,355.8
Nov-17	12,407.8
Dec-17	12,451.9
Jan-18	12,485.1
Feb-18	12,481.3
Mar-18	12,492.9
Apr-18	12,506.1
May-18	12,506.2
Jun-18	12,575.3
Jul-18	12,571.6
Aug-18	12,616.6
Sep-18	12,627.3
Oct-18	12,666.0
Nov-18	12,694.8
Dec-18	12,722.3
Jan-19	12,751.0
Feb-19	12,755.8
Mar-19	12,786.0
Apr-19	12,813.8
May-19	12,854.1
Jun-19	12,856.4
Jul-19	12,882.0
Aug-19	12,925.2
Sep-19	12,934.4
Oct-19	12,910.3
Nov-19	12,940.8
Dec-19	12,973.6
Jan-20	12,989.4
Feb-20	13,012.3
Mar-20	13,013.0
Apr-20	12,418.7

Employed persons

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

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Full-time and part-time employment

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020:

full-time employment decreased by 220,500 to 8,656,900 people, and part-time employment decreased 373,800 to 3,761,800 people
over the year to April 2020, full-time employment decreased by 123,000 people and part-time employment decreased by 272,000 people

This change led to a decrease in the part-time share of employment over the past 12 months, from 31.5% to 30.3%.

Employment to population ratio

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020:

the employment to population ratio decreased by 2.9 pts to 59.6%, and decreased by 2.8 pts from the same time last year

The employment to population ratio provides a measure of the change in employment relative to changes in the size of the population.

Employment to population ratio
	Seasonally adjusted (%)
Apr-10	61.7
May-10	61.6
Jun-10	61.9
Jul-10	61.9
Aug-10	62.1
Sep-10	62.2
Oct-10	62.2
Nov-10	62.4
Dec-10	62.4
Jan-11	62.5
Feb-11	62.2
Mar-11	62.4
Apr-11	62.1
May-11	62.0
Jun-11	62.1
Jul-11	62.0
Aug-11	62.0
Sep-11	62.1
Oct-11	62.0
Nov-11	61.9
Dec-11	61.7
Jan-12	62.0
Feb-12	61.7
Mar-12	62.0
Apr-12	61.8
May-12	61.9
Jun-12	61.7
Jul-12	61.7
Aug-12	61.6
Sep-12	61.7
Oct-12	61.7
Nov-12	61.5
Dec-12	61.5
Jan-13	61.8
Feb-13	61.7
Mar-13	61.4
Apr-13	61.5
May-13	61.4
Jun-13	61.4
Jul-13	61.2
Aug-13	61.1
Sep-13	61.1
Oct-13	61.1
Nov-13	60.9
Dec-13	60.7
Jan-14	60.7
Feb-14	60.8
Mar-14	60.9
Apr-14	60.9
May-14	60.7
Jun-14	60.8
Jul-14	60.8
Aug-14	60.7
Sep-14	60.6
Oct-14	60.5
Nov-14	60.5
Dec-14	60.7
Jan-15	60.7
Feb-15	60.9
Mar-15	60.9
Apr-15	60.8
May-15	61.0
Jun-15	60.9
Jul-15	61.0
Aug-15	61.0
Sep-15	61.0
Oct-15	61.3
Nov-15	61.4
Dec-15	61.4
Jan-16	61.3
Feb-16	61.3
Mar-16	61.3
Apr-16	61.2
May-16	61.1
Jun-16	61.2
Jul-16	61.3
Aug-16	61.0
Sep-16	60.8
Oct-16	60.9
Nov-16	61.0
Dec-16	61.0
Jan-17	61.0
Feb-17	60.9
Mar-17	61.1
Apr-17	61.3
May-17	61.4
Jun-17	61.4
Jul-17	61.5
Aug-17	61.7
Sep-17	61.8
Oct-17	61.8
Nov-17	62.0
Dec-17	62.1
Jan-18	62.2
Feb-18	62.0
Mar-18	62.0
Apr-18	62.0
May-18	61.9
Jun-18	62.2
Jul-18	62.1
Aug-18	62.2
Sep-18	62.1
Oct-18	62.3
Nov-18	62.3
Dec-18	62.4
Jan-19	62.4
Feb-19	62.3
Mar-19	62.4
Apr-19	62.4
May-19	62.6
Jun-19	62.5
Jul-19	62.6
Aug-19	62.7
Sep-19	62.6
Oct-19	62.5
Nov-19	62.6
Dec-19	62.6
Jan-20	62.6
Feb-20	62.6
Mar-20	62.5
Apr-20	59.6

Employment to population ratio

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

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[]

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Hours worked

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020, monthly hours worked in all jobs:

decreased by 163.9 million hours (-9.2%) to 1,625.8 million hours
decreased by 8% over the year, which is higher than the 3.1% decrease in employed people

Monthly hours worked in all jobs
	Seasonally adjusted (m)
Apr-10	1,539.4
May-10	1,553.3
Jun-10	1,554.3
Jul-10	1,548.4
Aug-10	1,562.5
Sep-10	1,561.7
Oct-10	1,567.6
Nov-10	1,570.7
Dec-10	1,568.7
Jan-11	1,581.0
Feb-11	1,579.2
Mar-11	1,580.2
Apr-11	1,558.9
May-11	1,571.8
Jun-11	1,581.8
Jul-11	1,582.7
Aug-11	1,583.7
Sep-11	1,580.9
Oct-11	1,592.0
Nov-11	1,585.2
Dec-11	1,586.3
Jan-12	1,588.6
Feb-12	1,585.6
Mar-12	1,595.8
Apr-12	1,605.4
May-12	1,602.6
Jun-12	1,576.9
Jul-12	1,588.2
Aug-12	1,587.0
Sep-12	1,597.7
Oct-12	1,584.3
Nov-12	1,599.3
Dec-12	1,601.8
Jan-13	1,600.3
Feb-13	1,602.4
Mar-13	1,597.1
Apr-13	1,620.1
May-13	1,603.6
Jun-13	1,604.4
Jul-13	1,615.7
Aug-13	1,619.8
Sep-13	1,608.2
Oct-13	1,609.1
Nov-13	1,604.3
Dec-13	1,605.1
Jan-14	1,598.7
Feb-14	1,606.4
Mar-14	1,614.4
Apr-14	1,595.3
May-14	1,609.3
Jun-14	1,616.9
Jul-14	1,615.3
Aug-14	1,615.0
Sep-14	1,610.6
Oct-14	1,612.1
Nov-14	1,611.5
Dec-14	1,598.9
Jan-15	1,627.8
Feb-15	1,625.4
Mar-15	1,634.9
Apr-15	1,649.8
May-15	1,632.5
Jun-15	1,631.4
Jul-15	1,638.5
Aug-15	1,636.3
Sep-15	1,648.0
Oct-15	1,652.7
Nov-15	1,653.2
Dec-15	1,650.1
Jan-16	1,659.6
Feb-16	1,661.5
Mar-16	1,653.5
Apr-16	1,646.3
May-16	1,659.6
Jun-16	1,655.0
Jul-16	1,659.4
Aug-16	1,661.7
Sep-16	1,658.1
Oct-16	1,663.6
Nov-16	1,665.1
Dec-16	1,671.8
Jan-17	1,691.7
Feb-17	1,659.5
Mar-17	1,675.7
Apr-17	1,687.6
May-17	1,706.7
Jun-17	1,703.0
Jul-17	1,696.3
Aug-17	1,702.2
Sep-17	1,710.5
Oct-17	1,714.2
Nov-17	1,727.0
Dec-17	1,720.0
Jan-18	1,698.2
Feb-18	1,721.1
Mar-18	1,724.0
Apr-18	1,759.2
May-18	1,726.6
Jun-18	1,737.8
Jul-18	1,740.6
Aug-18	1,742.4
Sep-18	1,748.2
Oct-18	1,754.7
Nov-18	1,752.6
Dec-18	1,750.7
Jan-19	1,762.8
Feb-19	1,764.4
Mar-19	1,776.8
Apr-19	1,767.9
May-19	1,764.4
Jun-19	1,765.5
Jul-19	1,774.8
Aug-19	1,779.1
Sep-19	1,783.6
Oct-19	1,779.1
Nov-19	1,781.3
Dec-19	1,788.6
Jan-20	1,778.0
Feb-20	1,773.8
Mar-20	1,789.7
Apr-20	1,625.8

Monthly hours worked in all jobs

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

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Participation

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020, the participation rate:

decreased by 2.4 pts to 63.5%, and decreased 2.3 pts over the year to April 2020
decreased by 1.9 pts for men (68.9%) and decreased by 2.9 pts for women (58.4%)
decreased by 2.7 pts to 76.0% for 15 to 64 year olds (the working age population). For 15 to 64 year old men, it was 81.1% and for 15 to 64 year old women it was 71.0%
decreased 5.6 pts to 62.9% for 15 to 24 year olds

Participation rate
	Seasonally adjusted (%)
Apr-10	65.3
May-10	65.0
Jun-10	65.2
Jul-10	65.4
Aug-10	65.4
Sep-10	65.5
Oct-10	65.7
Nov-10	65.8
Dec-10	65.6
Jan-11	65.8
Feb-11	65.5
Mar-11	65.6
Apr-11	65.4
May-11	65.3
Jun-11	65.3
Jul-11	65.4
Aug-11	65.4
Sep-11	65.5
Oct-11	65.4
Nov-11	65.4
Dec-11	65.1
Jan-12	65.3
Feb-12	65.1
Mar-12	65.3
Apr-12	65.1
May-12	65.3
Jun-12	65.1
Jul-12	65.1
Aug-12	65.0
Sep-12	65.3
Oct-12	65.2
Nov-12	64.9
Dec-12	65.0
Jan-13	65.3
Feb-13	65.2
Mar-13	65.1
Apr-13	65.2
May-13	65.0
Jun-13	65.1
Jul-13	64.9
Aug-13	64.9
Sep-13	64.8
Oct-13	64.8
Nov-13	64.6
Dec-13	64.5
Jan-14	64.6
Feb-14	64.6
Mar-14	64.7
Apr-14	64.7
May-14	64.6
Jun-14	64.7
Jul-14	64.8
Aug-14	64.6
Sep-14	64.7
Oct-14	64.7
Nov-14	64.5
Dec-14	64.6
Jan-15	64.7
Feb-15	64.9
Mar-15	64.9
Apr-15	64.8
May-15	64.9
Jun-15	64.8
Jul-15	65.1
Aug-15	64.9
Sep-15	65.0
Oct-15	65.2
Nov-15	65.2
Dec-15	65.1
Jan-16	65.2
Feb-16	65.0
Mar-16	64.9
Apr-16	64.9
May-16	64.9
Jun-16	64.9
Jul-16	64.9
Aug-16	64.7
Sep-16	64.5
Oct-16	64.5
Nov-16	64.7
Dec-16	64.8
Jan-17	64.7
Feb-17	64.7
Mar-17	64.9
Apr-17	64.9
May-17	65.0
Jun-17	65.1
Jul-17	65.2
Aug-17	65.3
Sep-17	65.3
Oct-17	65.3
Nov-17	65.5
Dec-17	65.8
Jan-18	65.8
Feb-18	65.7
Mar-18	65.6
Apr-18	65.6
May-18	65.4
Jun-18	65.7
Jul-18	65.5
Aug-18	65.6
Sep-18	65.4
Oct-18	65.5
Nov-18	65.7
Dec-18	65.7
Jan-19	65.7
Feb-19	65.6
Mar-19	65.7
Apr-19	65.9
May-19	66.0
Jun-19	66.0
Jul-19	66.1
Aug-19	66.2
Sep-19	66.1
Oct-19	66.0
Nov-19	66.0
Dec-19	66.0
Jan-20	66.1
Feb-20	66.0
Mar-20	66.0
Apr-20	63.5

Participation rate

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

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[]

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Underemployment

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2020:

the underemployment rate increased by 4.9 pts to 13.7% (5.2 pts higher than a year ago)
the underutilisation rate increased 5.9 pts to 19.9%

Underemployment rate and underutilisation rate
	Underemployment rate - Seasonally adjusted (%)	Underutilisation rate - Seasonally adjusted (%)
Apr-10	7.1	12.6
May-10	7.0	12.2
Jun-10	7.0	12.2
Jul-10	7.1	12.4
Aug-10	7.2	12.2
Sep-10	7.1	12.2
Oct-10	7.0	12.3
Nov-10	6.9	12.0
Dec-10	7.0	11.8
Jan-11	6.8	11.8
Feb-11	6.9	11.9
Mar-11	6.9	11.9
Apr-11	7.0	12.0
May-11	7.1	12.1
Jun-11	7.0	11.9
Jul-11	6.8	11.9
Aug-11	6.7	12.0
Sep-11	6.8	12.0
Oct-11	6.9	12.1
Nov-11	7.1	12.3
Dec-11	7.1	12.3
Jan-12	7.2	12.2
Feb-12	7.3	12.5
Mar-12	7.2	12.4
Apr-12	7.3	12.3
May-12	7.4	12.6
Jun-12	7.2	12.3
Jul-12	7.1	12.2
Aug-12	6.9	12.0
Sep-12	6.8	12.3
Oct-12	7.0	12.4
Nov-12	7.0	12.3
Dec-12	7.0	12.5
Jan-13	7.0	12.4
Feb-13	7.1	12.5
Mar-13	7.2	12.9
Apr-13	7.2	12.8
May-13	7.5	13.1
Jun-13	7.5	13.2
Jul-13	7.4	13.0
Aug-13	7.6	13.4
Sep-13	7.4	13.1
Oct-13	7.5	13.3
Nov-13	7.5	13.3
Dec-13	7.5	13.4
Jan-14	7.3	13.3
Feb-14	7.5	13.4
Mar-14	7.5	13.4
Apr-14	7.7	13.5
May-14	7.8	13.7
Jun-14	7.9	14.0
Jul-14	8.3	14.5
Aug-14	8.4	14.5
Sep-14	8.8	15.1
Oct-14	8.2	14.6
Nov-14	8.6	14.9
Dec-14	8.4	14.6
Jan-15	8.5	14.9
Feb-15	8.5	14.6
Mar-15	8.2	14.3
Apr-15	8.3	14.4
May-15	8.4	14.3
Jun-15	8.4	14.4
Jul-15	8.6	14.9
Aug-15	8.4	14.5
Sep-15	8.8	15.0
Oct-15	8.7	14.6
Nov-15	8.6	14.4
Dec-15	8.5	14.2
Jan-16	8.5	14.5
Feb-16	8.4	14.0
Mar-16	8.4	14.1
Apr-16	8.6	14.3
May-16	8.3	14.0
Jun-16	8.8	14.5
Jul-16	9.0	14.7
Aug-16	8.8	14.4
Sep-16	8.7	14.4
Oct-16	8.5	14.1
Nov-16	8.5	14.3
Dec-16	8.6	14.4
Jan-17	8.8	14.5
Feb-17	9.0	14.9
Mar-17	8.6	14.5
Apr-17	8.8	14.4
May-17	8.7	14.2
Jun-17	8.4	14.0
Jul-17	8.5	14.1
Aug-17	8.6	14.1
Sep-17	8.5	14.0
Oct-17	8.5	13.9
Nov-17	8.5	13.9
Dec-17	8.5	14.1
Jan-18	8.7	14.2
Feb-18	8.5	14.1
Mar-18	8.6	14.1
Apr-18	8.5	14.0
May-18	8.4	13.8
Jun-18	8.6	13.9
Jul-18	8.5	13.7
Aug-18	8.2	13.4
Sep-18	8.3	13.3
Oct-18	8.3	13.3
Nov-18	8.5	13.6
Dec-18	8.3	13.3
Jan-19	8.1	13.2
Feb-19	8.1	13.0
Mar-19	8.3	13.3
Apr-19	8.5	13.7
May-19	8.6	13.8
Jun-19	8.2	13.5
Jul-19	8.4	13.7
Aug-19	8.5	13.8
Sep-19	8.3	13.5
Oct-19	8.5	13.8
Nov-19	8.3	13.5
Dec-19	8.3	13.3
Jan-20	8.6	13.9
Feb-20	8.7	13.8
Mar-20	8.8	14.1
Apr-20	13.7	19.9

Underemployment rate and underutilisation rate

["","Underemployment rate - Seasonally adjusted","Underutilisation rate - Seasonally adjusted"]

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[]

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States and territories

April 2020, Seasonally adjusted estimates
	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	South Australia	Western Australia	Tasmania	Northern Territory	Australian Capital Territory	Australia
Employed persons	3,916,200	3,327,200	2,432,400	818,700	1,307,900	249,300	131,100	231,100	12,418,700
Employed persons - monthly change	-5.4%	-3.7%	-5.1%	-4.8%	-4.6%	-3.4%	-3.2%	-4.0%	-4.6%
Employment to population ratio	58.9%	60.6%	58.6%	56.1%	61.3%	56.1%	70.0%	67.2%	59.6%
Employment to population ratio - monthly change	-3.4 pts	-2.4 pts	-3.2 pts	-2.8 pts	-3.0 pts	-2.0 pts	-2.4 pts	-2.8 pts	-2.9 pts
Unemployment rate	6.0%	6.0%	6.8%	7.2%	6.0%	6.2%	6.5%	4.0%	6.2%
Unemployment rate - monthly change	1.1 pts	0.8 pts	1.2 pts	0.9 pts	0.6 pts	1.3 pts	1.2 pts	0.6 pts	1.0 pts
Underemployment rate	13.2%	14.1%	13.1%	15.7%	14.6%	16.8%	10.6%	9.0%	13.7%
Underemployment rate - monthly change	4.6 pts	5.7 pts	4.0 pts	5.2 pts	4.9 pts	4.7 pts	4.7 pts	3.5 pts	4.9 pts
Participation rate	62.6%	64.5%	62.9%	60.4%	65.2%	59.8%	74.8%	70.0%	63.5%
Participation rate - monthly change	-2.8 pts	-2.0 pts	-2.6 pts	-2.5 pts	-2.8 pts	-1.3 pts	-1.5 pts	-2.5 pts	-2.4 pts

Rotation group analysis

Sample composition and rotation

COVID-19 and the incoming rotation group in April

Outgoing rotation group

The importance of seasonally adjusted data

Contribution from sample components to estimates

Data files

Download xls [98.5 KB]

Data downloads

Labour Force status

Data files

Table 1. Labour force status by Sex, Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [6.82 MB]
Table 4. Labour force status by Sex, New South Wales - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.18 MB]
Table 5. Labour force status by Sex, Victoria - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.19 MB]
Table 6. Labour force status by Sex, Queensland - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.21 MB]
Table 7. Labour force status by Sex, South Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.22 MB]
Table 8. Labour force status by Sex, Western Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.22 MB]
Table 9. Labour force status by Sex, Tasmania - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [4.42 MB]
Table 10. Labour force status by Sex, Northern Territory - Trend and Original
Download xls [5.05 MB]
Table 10a. Labour force status by Sex, Northern Territory - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [254 KB]
Table 11. Labour force status by Sex, Australian Capital Territory - Trend and Original
Download xls [4.37 MB]
Table 11a. Labour force status by Sex, Australian Capital Territory - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [254 KB]
Table 12. Labour force status by Sex, State and Territory - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [41.32 MB]
Table 12a. Labour force status by Sex, Territory - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [458 KB]
Table 13. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [6.82 MB]
Table 15. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by Educational attendance (full-time) and Sex
Download xls [1.56 MB]
Table 16. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by State, Territory and Educational attendance (full-time)
Download xls [8.34 MB]
Table 17. Labour force status for 15-19 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [5.23 MB]
Table 18. Labour force status for 15-64 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [6.82 MB]

Hours worked

Data files

Table 19. Monthly hours worked in all jobs by Employed full-time, part-time and Sex and by State and Territory - Trend and Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [3.02 MB]
Table 19a. Monthly hours worked in all jobs by Employed full-time, part-time and Sex and Territory - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [75 KB]
Table 21. Quarterly hours worked in all jobs by Market and Non-market sector - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [62.5 KB]

Underemployment and underutilisation

Data files

Table 22. Underutilised persons by Age and Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [45.29 MB]
Table 23. Underutilised persons by State and Territory and Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original
Download xls [61.29 MB]
Table 23a. Underutilised persons by Territory and Sex - Seasonally adjusted
Download xls [690 KB]
Table 24. Underutilised persons by Age and Sex (expanded analytical series)
Download xls [725.5 KB]
Table 25. Underutilised persons by State, Territory and Sex (expanded analytical series)
Download xls [601.5 KB]

APA

Labour Force, Australia

APA

Key statistics

COVID-19 impacts and changes

Major impacts on the labour market

Suspension of trend series and changes to seasonal adjustment

Time series and sudden changes in the labour market

Suspension of trend estimates

Changes in the seasonal adjustment process

Future changes

Net Overseas Migration revisions in LFS benchmarks

Labour Force Survey response

Treatment of people on JobKeeper, JobSeeker or stood down

1. People paid through the JobKeeper wage subsidy: employed

2. People in receipt of the JobSeeker payment: it depends on their labour market activity

3. People not working any hours, including those who were stood down: it depends on their job attachment and pay, and potentially other labour market activity

Articles

Unemployment

Employment

Full-time and part-time employment

Employment to population ratio

Hours worked

Participation

Underemployment

States and territories

Rotation group analysis

Sample composition and rotation

COVID-19 and the incoming rotation group in April

Outgoing rotation group

The importance of seasonally adjusted data

Contribution from sample components to estimates

Data downloads

Labour Force status

Table 1. Labour force status by Sex, Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 4. Labour force status by Sex, New South Wales - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 5. Labour force status by Sex, Victoria - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 6. Labour force status by Sex, Queensland - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 7. Labour force status by Sex, South Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 8. Labour force status by Sex, Western Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 9. Labour force status by Sex, Tasmania - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 10. Labour force status by Sex, Northern Territory - Trend and Original

Table 10a. Labour force status by Sex, Northern Territory - Seasonally adjusted

Table 11. Labour force status by Sex, Australian Capital Territory - Trend and Original

Table 11a. Labour force status by Sex, Australian Capital Territory - Seasonally adjusted

Table 12. Labour force status by Sex, State and Territory - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 12a. Labour force status by Sex, Territory - Seasonally adjusted

Table 13. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 15. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by Educational attendance (full-time) and Sex

Table 16. Labour force status for 15-24 year olds by State, Territory and Educational attendance (full-time)

Table 17. Labour force status for 15-19 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 18. Labour force status for 15-64 year olds by Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Hours worked

Table 19. Monthly hours worked in all jobs by Employed full-time, part-time and Sex and by State and Territory - Trend and Seasonally adjusted

Table 19a. Monthly hours worked in all jobs by Employed full-time, part-time and Sex and Territory - Seasonally adjusted

Table 21. Quarterly hours worked in all jobs by Market and Non-market sector - Seasonally adjusted

Underemployment and underutilisation

Table 22. Underutilised persons by Age and Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 23. Underutilised persons by State and Territory and Sex - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original

Table 23a. Underutilised persons by Territory and Sex - Seasonally adjusted

Table 24. Underutilised persons by Age and Sex (expanded analytical series)

Table 25. Underutilised persons by State, Territory and Sex (expanded analytical series)

Flows into and out of employment

GM1 - Labour force status and Gross changes (flows) by Age, Sex, State and Territory, February 1991 onwards

All time series spreadsheets

All time series spreadsheets

Article archive

Understanding the labour force

Employment and jobs

Unemployment and underemployment

Hours worked

Regional estimates

LFS content and output

Methodology

Methodology

Articles

Employment falls 594,300 in April to 12.4 million

Employment and unemployment: An International Perspective, April 2020

Understanding differences between Labour Force employment statistics and Weekly Payroll Jobs

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