April jobs report a “soft outcome”; Easter, JobKeeper distort figures

20 May 2021

 

Summary: Total employment decreases in April; employment number change less than expected; “softer outcome” a function of Easter; participation rate declines from record high; fewer people seeking work outweighs smaller available workforce, sends jobless rate lower; fewer part-time jobs, more full-time jobs; aggregate work hours fall; underemployment rate falls further below 8%.   Australia’s period of falling unemployment came to an end in early 2019 when the jobless rate hit...

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