Australia Labour Force January 2027
January 20, 2027 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Australia Labour Force January 2027
Next Australia Labour Force: Thursday, at 11:30 am AEDT (7:30 pm ET, 12:30 am London).
- Consensus
- Not yet published
- Prior
- Unemployment rate 4.5%
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: Australia Labour Force.
Updated
The Australia Labour Force report for January 2027 is released on Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 11:30 am AEDT (7:30 pm ET on Wednesday, January 20, and 12:30 am London time on January 21). It is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the country’s official statistics agency, and follows the ABS pattern of releasing labour market data roughly three weeks after the reference month closes, so this release is expected to cover the December 2026 reference period. Full schedule and background: Australia Labour Force.
What is the Australia Labour Force report?
The Labour Force survey is Australia’s headline monthly measure of employment and unemployment. It is based on a sample survey of households, similar in design to the labour force surveys run by the UK’s Office for National Statistics and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. From it, the ABS calculates the unemployment rate (the share of the labour force that is without work but actively looking and available to start), the employment change (the net number of people who gained or lost jobs), and the participation rate (the share of the working-age population that is either working or looking for work).
The report also breaks employment down into full-time and part-time roles, and publishes an underemployment rate, which counts people who have a job but want and are available to work more hours. Combining underemployment with unemployment gives the underutilisation rate, a broader gauge of slack in the labour market.
Central banks watch this release closely. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) uses labour market trends, alongside inflation, to judge how much spare capacity exists in the economy and whether wage growth is likely to add to or ease price pressures. A tight labour market, with low unemployment and rising wages, can keep the RBA cautious about cutting interest rates. A labour market that is cooling more quickly than expected can support the case for rate cuts.
When is the January 2027 Labour Force report released?
The ABS is scheduled to release the report on Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 11:30 am AEDT. That converts to 7:30 pm ET on the Wednesday evening in the United States (because of the time difference, Australia is a day ahead) and 12:30 am in London on the Thursday. The data is published on the ABS website under Labour Force, Australia, alongside detailed tables and a media release summarising the headline figures.
What is the consensus forecast?
A consensus forecast for the January 2027 release has not yet been published. Economist surveys for Australian labour market data are typically compiled by Reuters and Bloomberg in the days immediately before release, so a poll median is not yet available this far ahead. The most recent confirmed ABS figures, from the Labour Force, Australia release for July 2026, showed the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.5 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
| Measure | Most recent confirmed reading | Consensus for January 2027 release |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% (July 2026) | Not yet published |
| Employment change | Unemployed people rose by 4,200 to 691,500 (July 2026) | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus (unemployment rate higher, or employment falls) | Traders could see this as a sign the labour market is loosening faster than expected, which may support bets on RBA rate cuts and could weigh on the Australian dollar | More people are out of work or fewer new jobs are being created than expected, which can be a warning sign for household spending |
| In line with consensus | A broadly neutral market reaction would be likely, since the data would confirm the existing trend the RBA is already tracking | The labour market is behaving roughly as expected, so there is little new information for households or businesses to act on |
| Below consensus (unemployment rate lower, or employment rises strongly) | A stronger than expected labour market could reduce the likelihood of near-term RBA rate cuts and could support the Australian dollar | More people are finding work than expected, which is generally positive for incomes but could also keep inflation pressures higher for longer |
These are possibilities based on how markets have typically reacted to labour market surprises, not predictions of what will happen in January 2027.
Why does this release matter right now?
The RBA sets interest rates with a mandate to keep inflation low while supporting full employment, and it treats the monthly Labour Force report as one of its key inputs alongside quarterly inflation data. Through 2026, the unemployment rate has drifted higher, moving from around 3.9 per cent in late 2024 to 4.3 per cent by November 2025 and 4.5 per cent by July 2026, according to ABS releases. Economists such as Indeed’s Callam Pickering have described some recent monthly prints as giving the RBA “a lot to think about”, reflecting how a gradually loosening labour market can shift the balance of risks the central bank weighs when setting policy.
A further rise in unemployment, or a run of weak employment prints, would add to the case that the labour market has moved past the point of being “tight”, which matters because Reserve Bank officials have previously flagged worker shortages and wage pressure as inflation risks. A labour market that continues to loosen gradually, without a sharp deterioration, is the scenario the RBA has generally said it wants to see as it tries to bring inflation back to target without triggering a larger rise in joblessness.
What It Means for Your Money
Mortgages and interest rates: A weaker than expected labour market print can raise expectations that the RBA will cut its cash rate sooner, which typically feeds through to lower variable mortgage rates in Australia over time. A stronger print can have the opposite effect, keeping borrowing costs higher for longer.
Savings: Interest rates on savings accounts and term deposits tend to move in the same direction as the cash rate, so a shift in rate cut expectations following this data can change what savers earn on their deposits.
Jobs and wages: The headline employment and unemployment figures give the clearest monthly signal of how easy or hard it is to find work in Australia, and whether wage pressure from a tight labour market is likely to persist.
Prices: Because the RBA links labour market slack to inflation risk, a surprisingly strong jobs report can reinforce concerns about persistent inflation, while a weaker report can support the case that price pressures are easing.
Investments, pensions and currencies: Movements in RBA rate expectations following this release can affect the Australian dollar against the US dollar, the pound and the euro, which matters for anyone holding Australian shares, superannuation funds with international exposure, or planning travel to or from Australia. Global investors, including those in the UK, Europe and Asia with exposure to Australian equities, bonds or the currency, often watch this release for early signs of RBA policy direction.
Related events
- Previous release: Australia Labour Force, December 2026
- The next monthly Australia Labour Force release, typically published around three weeks after the following reference month closes
- Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decisions, which weigh labour market data alongside inflation figures
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the January 2027 Australia Labour Force report released?
The ABS is scheduled to release it at 11:30 am AEDT on Thursday, January 21, 2027, which is 7:30 pm ET on the Wednesday evening in the United States and 12:30 am in London on the Thursday.
How do I read the unemployment rate and employment change together?
The unemployment rate shows the share of the labour force without work, while the employment change shows the net number of jobs added or lost, so it is useful to check both figures together with the participation rate, since a falling unemployment rate can sometimes reflect people leaving the labour force rather than finding work.
How does this data affect Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decisions?
The RBA treats the labour market as one of its main gauges of spare capacity in the economy, so a run of weak jobs data can support arguments for interest rate cuts, while persistently strong jobs data can keep the RBA cautious about cutting rates.
Where can I find the official Labour Force release?
The official data and media release are published on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
When is the next Australia Labour Force report released?
The ABS publishes Labour Force data monthly, so the next report is expected around three weeks after the following reference month closes, in line with the ABS release calendar.