MNI DATA IMPACT: Australia Jobs Down 5.5% In W/E Apr 4

     SYDNEY (MNI) - More than 5% of total jobs in Australia were lost in the

week to April 4, data released Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics

and the Australian Tax Office showed.

     -- The key points from the release included:

     - Total jobs were down by 5.5% in the week ended April 4, falling 6.0% in

the 3 weeks to the same date.

     - Total wages paid by employers over the same week were down by 5.1%, down

6.7% over the 3-week period.

     - Under 20s bore the brunt of the job losses, with a 9.9% decrease in

employment in this demographic over three weeks.

     - In terms of sectors, the accommodation and food services - or hospitality

- industries were hardest hit, with job losses at 25.6%

     - Employment in the arts and recreation services fell 18.7%, with mining

the next hardest hit with a 8.4% fall.

     - On a geographic basis, Tasmania and Victoria had the largest decreases,

with jobs down by 7.3% and 6.8% respectively.

     The ABS and the ATO has begun a new series of estimates of Weekly Payroll

Jobs and Wages in Australia to provide additional information on the economic

impact of COVID-19 and complement monthly Labour Force statistics.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MALDS$,M$A$$$,M$L$$$]