Australia’s Jobless Rate Edges up to 4.3 Percent, the Highest Point Since the Pandemic

Full-time jobs fell by 38,000 in June, offset by 40,000 new part-time roles, as total hours worked across the economy dropped 0.9 percent.

People queue outside an Australian government welfare centre, Centrelink, in Melbourne, Australia, on March 23, 2020. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s unemployment rate rose for the first time in 2025, lifting to 4.3 percent in June, as the number of people without work climbed by 34,000, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This marks the first hike in 2025, ending a six-month pause at 4.1 percent, and reaching its highest point since the pandemic.