Jobless Rate Holds at 4.1 percent Even as Job Growth Stalls

Australia’s labour market looks steady—but falling participation, slowing hours, and underutilisation expose growing weakness.

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 remained steady at 4.1 percent in May, marking the third consecutive month without change, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released on June 19.

The result comes even as total employment dropped slightly by 2,000 people.