November 14, 2024 02:01 GMT
AUSTRALIA: Stabilisation Of Labour Indicators Continued In October
AUSTRALIA
In its November statement, the RBA said “labour market conditions remain tight” and that while it is “easing gradually”, “some indicators have recently stabilised”. In this list, it included youth unemployment, underemployment and hours worked. The October data confirmed this viewpoint and adds to the case to leave policy on hold for now. With the unemployment rate starting Q4 at 4.1%, there is also the chance that the RBA’s 4.3% forecast will be revised down.
- The underemployment rate fell 0.1pp to 6.2% in October to be down 0.2pp on a year ago and the lowest since April 2023. The 3-month average has been trending down over 2024.
- The RBA sees the youth unemployment rate as a lead indicator of the labour market and while it is still 2.1pp higher than its July 2022 trough, it also appears to have stabilised at around 9.1% after 9.9% in August.
Australia unemployment rate 15-24yrs %
Source: MNI - Market News/ABS
- Hours worked rose 0.1% m/m, the slowest since May, but through the volatility they grew by 2.5% y/y after 2.4% in September and 3-month annualised momentum picked up to 4.2% from 3.4% with both full-time and part-time seeing a rise.
- Vacancies have been normalising but remain elevated with internet vacancies/unemployment picking up again in August/September and SEEK applicants/job stabilising. But Q3 ABS vacancies fell 5.2% q/q with the ratio to unemployed falling almost 5pp.
- RBA Governor Bullock said today that skilled labour shortages are still a problem in some sectors. The NAB business survey measure has also stabilised.
Australia hours worked %
Source: MNI - Market News/ABS
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