---
source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
url: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release
document_type: html
date_retrieved: 2026-03-19
period: February 2026
parent_publication: Labour Force Survey
indicators_covered: [Employment Change, Unemployment Rate, Participation Rate, Full Time Employment, Part Time Employment]
---

# Labour Force Survey, Australia — February 2026

**Released:** 19 March 2026 at 11:30 AM AEDT

## Key Statistics

### Trend Terms (February 2026)

- **Unemployment rate:** Decreased to 4.2%
- **Participation rate:** Remained at 66.8%
- **Employment:** Increased to 14,721,400 (monthly change: +24,000 or 0.2%)
- **Employment to population ratio:** Increased to 64.0%
- **Underemployment rate:** Remained at 5.9%
- **Monthly hours worked:** Increased to 2,009 million (+5 million or 0.3%)
- **Youth unemployment rate:** Remained at 10.0%

Year-on-year: Employment increased 177,100 (+1.2%), unemployed increased 39,800 (+6.5%), unemployment rate increased 0.2 pts.

### Seasonally Adjusted Terms (February 2026)

- **Unemployment rate:** Increased to 4.3%
- **Participation rate:** Increased to 66.9%
- **Employment:** Increased to 14,748,700 (monthly change: +48,900 or 0.3%)
- **Employment to population ratio:** Remained at 64.0%
- **Underemployment rate:** Remained at 5.9%
- **Monthly hours worked:** Decreased to 2,007 million (-3 million or -0.2%)
- **Full-time employment:** Decreased by 30,500 to 10,117,000 people
- **Part-time employment:** Increased by 79,400 to 4,631,800 people

Year-on-year: Employment increased 264,700 (+1.8%), unemployed increased 47,600 (+7.8%), unemployment rate increased 0.2 pts.

## Headline Data Comparison

| Metric | Jan-26 | Feb-26 | Monthly Change | Monthly % | Yearly Change | Yearly % |
|--------|--------|--------|---|---|---|---|
| **Trend Terms** |
| Employed people | 14,697,400 | 14,721,400 | 24,000 | 0.2% | 177,100 | 1.2% |
| Unemployed people | 654,600 | 653,000 | -1,600 | -0.2% | 39,800 | 6.5% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.2% | 0.0 pts | — | 0.2 pts | — |
| Participation rate | 66.8% | 66.8% | 0.0 pts | — | -0.2 pts | — |
| Monthly hours worked | 2,004 M | 2,009 M | 5 M | 0.3% | 34 M | 1.7% |
| **Seasonally Adjusted** |
| Employed people | 14,699,800 | 14,748,700 | 48,900 | 0.3% | 264,700 | 1.8% |
| Unemployed people | 624,200 | 659,100 | 35,000 | 5.6% | 47,600 | 7.8% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.3% | 0.2 pts | — | 0.2 pts | — |
| Participation rate | 66.7% | 66.9% | 0.2 pts | — | 0.2 pts | — |
| Monthly hours worked | 2,011 M | 2,007 M | -3 M | -0.2% | 31 M | 1.6% |

## Survey Details

**Reference period:** 1–14 February 2026
**Enumeration period:** 8–28 February 2026
**Measurement:** Two-week reference with collection spanning three weeks

## Key Definitions

**Employment Change (seasonally adjusted, Feb 2026):** +48,900 persons (0.3% monthly growth)
- Comprises full-time decline (-30,500) and part-time increase (+79,400)

**Unemployment Rate (seasonally adjusted, Feb 2026):** 4.3%
- Increased 0.2 percentage points from January (4.1%)
- Unemployed persons: 659,100 (SA), up 35,000 from January

**Participation Rate (seasonally adjusted, Feb 2026):** 66.9%
- Increased 0.2 percentage points from January (66.7%)
- Reflects increased labour force engagement

**Full-Time Employment:** 10,117,000 persons (SA)
- Decreased 30,500 month-on-month
- Part of the broader employment composition alongside 4.63 million part-time workers

**Part-Time Employment:** 4,631,800 persons (SA)
- Increased 79,400 month-on-month
- Net employment gain driven entirely by part-time expansion

## Labour Force Composition

Total employed persons (SA, Feb 2026):
- Full-time: 10,117,000
- Part-time: 4,631,800
- **Total: 14,748,700**

Employment distribution reflects continued structural shift toward part-time and flexible work arrangements.

## Underlying Context

The ABS has revised the Labour Force series from July 2024 onwards to reflect the latest Estimated Resident Population (ERP). This quarterly rebenchmarking process captures recent population trend changes and reduces downstream revisions following the Census. Both original and seasonally adjusted series are affected by these revisions.

The ABS is modernising the Labour Force Survey to improve collection methodology, response rates, and efficiency while maintaining statistical quality.

## Notes

- Estimates using un-rounded level data; movements may differ from rounded figures shown here but are more accurate
- Seasonally adjusted series account for regular seasonal variations
- For detailed definitions and methodology, refer to ABS Glossary of Labour Force, Australia
- Next release scheduled: 16 April 2026 (March 2026 data)