In October 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment decreased 102,000 to 1,637,000 (down 0.5% to 10.3% of the workforce), but under-employment increased 147,000 to 1,646,000 (up 1.1% to 10.4%).
In total 3.28 million Australians (20.7% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in October.
Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at just under 16 million in October – 15,857,000 to be exact, down 201,000 on a month ago, and representing 68.4% of Australians aged 14+.
The decrease in the workforce was driven by falls in both employment and unemployment, as people left the workforce.
Overall employment fell 99,000 to 14,220,000, and ‘real’ unemployment was down 102,000 to 1,637,000. Now overall employment represents 61.3% of Australians aged 14+.
Detailed Roy Morgan Employment Estimates in October:
Australian workforce dropped by 201,000 in October to under 15.9 million:
In October the Australian workforce decreased 201,000 to 15,857,000 driven by a fall in employment, down 99,000 to 14,220,000 and fall in unemployment, which fell 102,000 to 1,637,000.
Overall employment decreased in October driven by a fall in full-time employment:
Australian employment dropped 99,000 to 14,220,000 driven by a fall in full-time employment, down 229,000 to 8,993,000, and equivalent to 63.2% of employed Australians. However, part-time employment increased by 130,000 to 5,227,000, and equivalent to 36.8% of employed Australians.
Unemployment dropped 0.5% in October to 10.3%:
1,637,000 Australians were unemployed (10.3% of the workforce, down 0.5%), down 102,000 from September. The fall in unemployment was driven by fewer people looking for part-time work, down 95,000 to 949,000, although there was little change to those looking for full-time work at 688,000.
Under-employment increased in October; overall unemployment and under-employed at 20.7%:
In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.65 million Australians (10.4% of the workforce, up 1.1%) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, up 147,000 from September.
“The latest Roy Morgan employment estimates for October show overall Australian unemployment and under-employment increasing 45,000 to 3,283,000 (20.7% of the workforce, up 0.6%). Concerningly, overall unemployment and under-employment have been above 3 million all year,” according to a Roy Morgan spokesperson.
“The increase in labour under-utilisation in October was driven by a significant rise in under-employment, up 147,000 to 1,646,000 (10.4% of the workforce, up 1.1%). Unemployment was down 102,000 to 1,637,000 (10.3% of the workforce, down 0.5%)”