Australia employed 14,762,800 people in March 2026, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.3% for the third consecutive month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Employment grew by 30,800 from February and 201,300 over the year. This article covers the headline figures, full-time and part-time splits, state-by-state numbers, and year-on-year changes from the ABS March 2026 Labour Force release.
Employment in Australia Statistics 2026 – TL;DR
- Australia employed 14,762,800 people in March 2026 in trend terms.
- The unemployment rate stayed at 4.3% for three months running.
- Youth unemployment reached 10.1%, more than double the national rate.
- Full-time roles account for 68.8% of all employment.
- South Australia recorded the lowest state unemployment at 3.9%; Victoria the highest at 4.7%.
How Many People Are Employed in Australia in 2026?
Australia counted 14,762,800 employed people in March 2026 (trend), up 30,800 from February. The seasonally adjusted figure came in at 14,767,700. The participation rate sat at 66.8% and the employment-to-population ratio reached 64.0%.
Total unemployed people stood at 655,600 in trend terms, almost unchanged from February. Underemployment held at 5.9%, putting the combined underutilisation rate at 10.2%.
| Metric | March 2026 (Trend) | Feb 2026 (Trend) | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed people | 14,762,800 | 14,732,000 | +30,800 (+0.2%) |
| Unemployed people | 655,600 | 655,800 | -100 (0.0%) |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Participation rate | 66.8% | 66.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Employment-to-population | 64.0% | 64.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Underemployment rate | 5.9% | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Underutilisation rate | 10.2% | 10.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Monthly hours worked | 2,015 million | 2,010 million | +4M (+0.2%) |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Australia, March 2026 (released April 16, 2026)
Employment in Australia Statistics: Full-Time vs Part-Time Split
Full-time employment reached 10,161,200 in March 2026 (trend), gaining 17,500 from February. Part-time employment came in at 4,601,600, up 13,300 month-on-month. Full-time roles account for 68.8% of all jobs, with part-time making up the other 31.2%.
Men’s participation rate held at 70.7% while women’s participation rose to 63.1%, narrowing the gender gap to 7.6 percentage points.
| Employment Type | March 2026 (Trend) | Monthly Change | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 10,161,200 | +17,500 | 68.8% |
| Part-time | 4,601,600 | +13,300 | 31.2% |
| Total employed | 14,762,800 | +30,800 | 100% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Australia, March 2026
Employment in Australia Statistics by State and Territory
New South Wales remained the largest employer with 4,559,900 jobs in March 2026, followed by Victoria at 3,804,600 and Queensland at 3,030,300. South Australia recorded the lowest state unemployment rate at 3.9%, with Queensland and the ACT tied at 4.0%.
Victoria posted the highest state unemployment at 4.7%, a full 0.8 points above South Australia. Tasmania showed the weakest combined position: 60.4% participation, 57.7% employment-to-population, and 7.5% underemployment.
| State / Territory | Employed | Unemployment | Participation | Underemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 4,559,900 | 4.2% | 66.4% | 5.7% |
| Victoria | 3,804,600 | 4.7% | 67.3% | 6.3% |
| Queensland | 3,030,300 | 4.0% | 66.9% | 6.0% |
| South Australia | 996,200 | 3.9% | 64.5% | 6.3% |
| Western Australia | 1,680,000 | 4.1% | 68.8% | 5.4% |
| Tasmania | 280,600 | 4.6% | 60.4% | 7.5% |
| Northern Territory | 146,300 | 4.6% | 73.1% | 3.8% |
| ACT | 277,800 | 4.0% | 72.3% | 4.7% |
| Australia (total) | 14,762,800 | 4.3% | 66.8% | 5.9% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Australia, March 2026 (States and Territories Trend table)
Employment in Australia Statistics: Year-on-Year Changes
Australia added 201,300 employed people in the 12 months to March 2026, a 1.4% gain in trend terms. Unemployed people rose by 37,600 (+6.1%) over the same window, alongside the employment gain. The unemployment rate climbed 0.2 points from about 4.1% in March 2025 to 4.3% in March 2026.
Monthly hours worked grew by 39 million (+2.0%), running faster than the 1.4% employment gain. That points to existing workers picking up more hours rather than headcount alone driving activity.
| Metric | Year-on-Year Change (Trend) | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Employed people | +201,300 | +1.4% |
| Unemployed people | +37,600 | +6.1% |
| Unemployment rate | +0.2 pts | — |
| Participation rate | -0.2 pts | — |
| Underemployment rate | 0.0 pts | — |
| Monthly hours worked | +39 million | +2.0% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Australia, March 2025 to March 2026
Youth Unemployment and Underutilisation in Australia
Youth unemployment reached 10.1% in March 2026, more than double the headline 4.3% rate. The underutilisation rate, which combines unemployment and underemployment, sat at 10.2% nationally.
Tasmania carried the heaviest combined load with an implied underutilisation rate near 12.1%. The Northern Territory had the lowest underemployment at 3.8%, paired with the highest participation rate of 73.1%.
FAQs
How many people are employed in Australia in 2026?
Australia employed 14,762,800 people in March 2026 in trend terms, according to the ABS. The seasonally adjusted figure was 14,767,700. Employment grew by 30,800 from February and 201,300 over the year.
What is the unemployment rate in Australia?
The Australian unemployment rate sat at 4.3% in March 2026, unchanged for three consecutive months in trend terms. Total unemployed people reached 655,600. Youth unemployment ran much higher at 10.1%.
Which Australian state has the highest unemployment rate?
Victoria recorded the highest state unemployment rate at 4.7% in March 2026. South Australia had the lowest at 3.9%, followed by Queensland and the ACT both at 4.0%. The national rate was 4.3%.
What percentage of Australians work part-time?
About 31.2% of employed Australians worked part-time in March 2026, totalling 4,601,600 people. Full-time employment covered the remaining 68.8%, or 10,161,200 workers. Roughly one in three employed Australians holds a part-time role.
How much did employment grow in Australia year-on-year?
Australian employment grew by 201,300 people (+1.4%) in the 12 months to March 2026 in trend terms. Monthly hours worked rose 2.0% over the same period, faster than headcount growth, pointing to longer hours per worker.
Sources
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release
https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/labour-force-australia-methodology/mar-2026
