Australia’s unemployment rate jumps to 4.5% in ‘tentative signs labour market is buckling’
Surprise rise in jobless rate will give Reserve Bank more reason to delay another interest rate hike at June meeting
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/may/21/australia-news-live-penny-wong-israel-flotilla-budget-capital-gains-negative-gearing-anthony-albanese-jim-chalmers-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email, https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app or https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast
Australia’s unemployment rate has jumped to 4.5% in April to reach the highest in about four-and-half-years, amid fears rising interest rates and the global oil crisis will smash economic growth.
The number of employed people unexpectedly fell by 18,600 in the month – the first decline this year – dragging the jobless rate up from 4.3%, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/21/australia-unemployment-rate-jumps-job-market-rba-reserve-bank">Continue reading...Australia's unemployment hits high
- Unemployment climbs to highest level in almost five years Sydney Morning Herald —
- Australia’s unemployment rate climbs to 4.5%; May flash PMI signals contraction, inflation expectations ease Seeking Alpha —
- Australian unemployment rate reaches five-year high Sydney Morning Herald —
- Breaking: Unemployment rate jumps to 4.5 per cent ABC News —
- Australia’s Surprising Jump in Unemployment Trims Rate-Hike Bets Bloomberg —