In February 2026, 1.7 million people were not working but wanted to work, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Of these, 1.1 million were available to start work immediately, including 640,000 unemployed individuals. Total employment stood at 14.5 million, with 1.4 million potential workers without job attachment. The survey, conducted under the Participation, Job Search and Mobility program, noted steady potential worker numbers since February 2025. Data for the new Labour Supplementary Survey, effective from August 2026, will be released in April 2027. Key factors affecting work availability included education, caregiving, and health conditions. The report highlights 579,400 people available to work but not actively seeking jobs, primarily due to education or childcare responsibilities.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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