2026.04.1601:38:49UTC+00Australia Jobless Rate Holds at 4.3%

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 4.3% in March 2026, unchanged from February and matching market expectations. Despite this stability, the rate remained at its highest level since November, even as the number of unemployed fell slightly, down 3,700 to 656,300 from 660,100 in February. The number of part-time job seekers declined by 3,800 to 217,500, while the number of people unemployed and looking for full-time work increased by 4,600 to 438,800.

Total employment rose by 17,900 to 14.77 million, coming in below forecasts for a 20,000 increase. This marked the weakest employment gain since the contraction recorded last November, and followed an upwardly revised rise of 49,600 in February. Full-time employment climbed by 52,500 to 10.17 million, whereas part-time employment fell by 34,600 to 4.59 million.

The participation rate edged down to 66.8%, from February’s four-month high of 66.9% and slightly below market expectations. The underemployment rate was unchanged at 5.9%. Meanwhile, total monthly hours worked across all jobs increased by 9 million, reaching 2,016 million.