Australia Adds 47,500 Jobs in August, Surpassing Expectations and Signaling Strong Labor Market

September 20, 2024
Australia Adds 47,500 Jobs in August, Surpassing Expectations and Signaling Strong Labor Market
  • Over the past five months, the labor market has seen impressive gains, with a total of 205,000 jobs added.

  • Deputy governor Sarah Hunter noted that the current job market appears stronger than what is sustainable long-term, indicating conditions may be 'above' full employment.

  • The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) views the low unemployment rate as potentially inconsistent with efforts to control inflation, which remains a concern.

  • The participation rate in the workforce held steady at a record high of 67.1%, reflecting increased workplace flexibility and a growing number of women entering the job market.

  • Deutsche Bank's Phil Odonaghoe highlighted a trend of slowing labor demand, suggesting firms are opting to reduce work hours rather than halt hiring.

  • Australia's economy added 47,500 jobs in August, significantly surpassing economists' expectations of 26,000 and marking the fifth consecutive month of robust labor growth.

  • This increase in employment comes despite a slight decrease from the previous month's growth of 58,200 jobs recorded in July.

  • Despite positive job market figures, analysts from Oxford Economics suggest these developments are unlikely to influence mortgage rates.

  • This employment data was released shortly after the US Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates, adding further context to the global economic landscape.

  • Local businesses are struggling to fill a high number of vacancies, particularly for skilled labor, as employers actively seek to hire.

  • Treasurer Jim Chalmers praised the creation of new jobs as a solid achievement amid a slowing economy, noting that most of the nearly 978,000 new jobs created under the Albanese Government are full-time and predominantly for women.

  • As a result, the RBA may not cut interest rates soon, especially given the strong labor market dynamics.

Summary based on 5 sources


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Sources




Alarming figure ahead of RBA rate decision

news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site • Sep 19, 2024

Alarming figure ahead of RBA rate decision

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