COVID Impacts Payrolls

The ABS notes that "payroll jobs fell by 2.4% nationally in the fortnight to 17 July 2021, following a 0.2% fall in the previous fortnight. The latest fortnight of data coincided with school holidays in every state and territory, the second and third weeks of the Greater Sydney lockdown, increased COVID-19 restrictions in other parts of New South Wales and the first two days of lockdown in Victoria. While every state and territory saw a fall in payroll jobs across the fortnight, the falls were much larger in New South Wales (down 4.4%) and neighbouring Australian Capital Territory (down 2.4%). New South Wales usually accounts for around a third (32.0%) of total payroll jobs and Victoria around a quarter (26.2%). As a result, lockdowns in these two states contributed to a strong fall in payroll jobs nationally."