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Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6% in August 2026. Employment rose by 39,500: part-time employment increased by 45,800 while full-time employment fell by 6,300. Participation was 67.1%.

OTG hiring commentary. Assess availability by occupation and city before setting a search timetable. Growth in part-time employment does not establish that senior full-time specialists are easier to recruit.

The RBA raised the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% on 29 September. The ABS release the following day put annual CPI inflation at 4.0% in August, up from 3.5% in July; annual trimmed mean inflation remained 3.6%.

OTG hiring commentary. Confirm funding and headcount approval before opening a search. Recheck salary budgets against business costs; these releases do not by themselves predict hiring volumes or the next rate decision.

From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 an hour or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. It applies to adult national-system employees not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. Award minimum rates increased by 4.75%, subject to the Commission’s minimum-rate floors.

OTG hiring commentary. Check the current award, classification and applicable rate before advertising or making an offer. The national minimum is a legal floor, not a salary benchmark for specialist appointments.

Payday Super commenced on 1 July 2026. The ATO says employers must calculate super guarantee at 12% of qualifying earnings and pay it with wages, with contributions generally reaching the fund within seven business days. Extended timeframes apply in some circumstances, including new employees.

OTG hiring commentary. Build super into payroll cash-flow planning for each new hire. Confirm fund details and payment processing during onboarding, and check the applicable timing rules with the payroll provider.

The Home Affairs Minister announced plans to update Ministerial Direction 119 to prioritise skilled-visa processing across sectors including construction, health, education and resources. The announcement links the package to Budget net overseas migration forecasts of 245,000 in 2026–27 and 225,000 in 2027–28; it does not establish a commencement date for every measure.

OTG hiring commentary. Check the current visa rules and processing priorities for each sponsored role. An announced priority is not a guaranteed turnaround time; avoid committing a start date on that basis alone.

Total dwelling commencements rose 7.0% to 52,201 in the June quarter in seasonally adjusted terms and were 14.4% higher than a year earlier. Private house commencements rose 11.6%, while other residential commencements were almost unchanged. Completions rose 5.8% to 47,168.

OTG hiring commentary. Commencements and completions are closer to real delivery activity than approvals, but the mix matters. Plan workforce demand by project type, location and funded stage rather than treating the national rise as a uniform hiring signal.