Unemployment rate in Australia falls as pandemic restrictions eased

Australia’s unemployment rate fell in November as states emerged from their respective lockdowns, hitting 4.6%, a 0.6 percentage point improvement on October’s figures, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

The number of employed workers rose by 366,100 in the month. 

The easing of pandemic-led restrictions in New South Wales and Victoria impacted the national jobs figures significantly, with employment in both states rising by 180,000 people and 141,000 people between October and November.

“The latest data shows the extent of recovery between early October and early November in jurisdictions coming out of Delta lockdowns,” said ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis. 

Throughout the lockdowns caused by the Delta variant, most workers remained attached to their jobs to a greater extent that was seen earlier in the pandemic, Jarvis said. 

“This job attachment meant, as restrictions were eased, many people were able to quickly return to work,” he added.

READ: One in three Australians employers have fired unvaccinated workers

“Today’s jobs numbers are the clearest indication of what happens when you ease restrictions,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, addressing reports in Canberra, reports SBS News.

“We’re not going to see Omicron derail the recovery,” he added.