Core Viewpoint - The Australian labor market remains tight with an unemployment rate of 4.1% in January 2026, unchanged from December 2025, indicating near full capacity of the economy and increasing the risk of earlier interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia [1][2]. Group 1: Employment Data - In January 2026, the seasonally adjusted employment number increased by 0.1% month-on-month and approximately 1% year-on-year, reaching 14.7038 million [1]. - The number of unemployed individuals decreased by about 0.3% month-on-month and approximately 0.1% year-on-year, totaling 624.7 thousand [1]. - Monthly working hours increased by 0.6% month-on-month, while the underemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.9% [1]. Group 2: Trend Data - The trend data shows a decrease in the unemployment rate from 4.2% to 4.1% month-on-month, with employment numbers growing by about 0.2% month-on-month and approximately 1.2% year-on-year, reaching 14.7058 million [1]. - The number of unemployed individuals decreased by about 1.3% month-on-month but increased by approximately 4.2% year-on-year, totaling 636.3 thousand [1]. - The monthly working hours increased by 0.2% month-on-month, and the underemployment rate remained stable at 5.9% [1]. Group 3: Labor Market Insights - The labor force participation rate in January 2026 was 66.7%, which is 0.6 percentage points lower than the historical high recorded in January 2025 [1]. - The underemployment rate rose to 5.9%, and the labor force underutilization rate reached 10% [1]. - Chief Economist Anders Magnusson noted that the 4.1% unemployment rate confirms a tight labor market, contradicting the Reserve Bank of Australia's forecasts and increasing the risk of earlier interest rate hikes [2].
【环球财经】2026年1月澳大利亚失业率维持在4.1%不变
Xin Hua Cai Jing·2026-02-19 04:02