April unemployment figures rise to 4.5%

In seasonally adjusted terms, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported a cooler labour market, with the unemployment rate increasing by 0.2ppt.

Latest ABS statistics reveal the number of employed people fell by 19,000, with unemployment numbers rising by 33,000.

As reported in HR Leader’s sister brand Accounting Times yesterday (21 May), economists predicted a “slightly softer labour force print” this month following on from the Reserve Bank’s rate hike to 4.35 per cent earlier this month.

Addressing the Bloomberg Forum for Investment Managers on 19 May, RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter said: “Our research suggests pass-through will be faster and more extensive, and the risk of inflation expectations drifting higher is elevated.”

Over April, the number of workers looking for both full-time and part-time work increased by 11,000 and 22,000, respectively.

According to ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick: “Compared to what we usually see in April, more people remained unemployed this month.”

Female employment saw a considerable decrease in April, the first fall since August 2025. Women in full-time roles decreased by 19,000, and there were 13,000 fewer in part-time employment.

Male employment grew by 8,000 in full-time roles, and another 5,000 in part-time roles.

Consequently, the underemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points from a March rate of 5.9 per cent. As reported last month, the March unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 per cent, following a slight uptick in February.

Crick said: “Despite the fall in employment this month, hours worked rose by 15.8 million hours,” meaning hours per person increased by 0.9 per cent.

The trend unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 per cent.

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