Total full-time workforce

IBISWorld forecasts that the number of full-time employees will increase by 1.4% in 2025-26, to an average of 10.15 million people. This growth slightly outpaces the 1.3% increase in the Australian population in 2025-26. This marks a slight deceleration from the 2.0% growth seen in 2024-25, resulting from a moderation in labour market momentum as the economy approaches more sustainable growth, supported by easing inflationary pressures.

A person needs to work 35 hours per week to be considered a full-time employee. This means that many jobs, including those that offer school-friendly hours, are considered part-time. This has become more noticeable as households are increasingly made up of two working parents. In recent years, cost-of-living pressures have encouraged workers to take on multiple jobs, as there are more part-time job opportunities available than full-time ones. The increasing casualisation of the workforce, whereby more employees are working part-time rather than full-time, has limited growth in the total full-time workforce over the past few years.

Over the past five years, economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rebound in labour demand, resulting in a post-pandemic job boom and growth in the total full-time workforce. This rebound follows a low base in 2020-21, when lockdowns had suppressed employment. The recovery was particularly strong in 2022-23, with the full-time workforce increasing 5.6%. Since then, growth has moderated, aligning more closely with productivity and population trends rather than post-pandemic catch-up effects. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts that the number of full-time employees will expand at a compound annual rate of 3.1% through the end of 2025-26.