Employment

Over the past 12 months, full-time employment in the Hunter region (see below and footnotes for region definitions) has been cycling up and down in the order of 2-3%. This contrasts with more stable figures for New South Wales (NSW) overall, where full-time employment was roughly constant prior to a small peak at the start of 2025.

In April 2025, full-time employment increased by 2,121 jobs, reversing the decline of 3,730 jobs in March 2025.
Over the past three months, full-time employment fell by a net 2,475 jobs.
Over the past six months, the decline was only approximately 356 jobs.

Part-Time Employment:

In the Hunter, part-time employment increased by 2.3% over the past 12 months.
In comparison, part-time employment across NSW rose by 4.9%, following a 3.4% growth in the previous 12 months.

Note that for the Hunter, employment statistics are collected at the Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4), including the SA4s of ‘Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle’, and ‘Newcastle and Lake Macquarie’, but excluding the Mid-Coast LGA which is classified in the Mid North Coast SA4 region. Hence data for the Hunter Region in this section excludes the Mid-Coast LGA.

Data source: ABS Labour Force, Australia, Detailed

Unemployment

Data source: ABS Labour Force, Australia, Detailed

Unemployment in the Hunter region has mirrored the employment data, with cyclical fluctuations over the last 12 months. The unemployment rate is now 4.3%, compared to 4.2% for New South Wales (NSW). Youth unemployment in the Hunter region in contrast is down to 3.0%, below the NSW level of 4.7%. These rates compare to a notional figure of circa 4.5% for the ‘non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment’ or NAIRU. Unemployment rates far away from the NAIRU are expected to help fuel wages growth and inflation. Note that the values expressed here are with a 3-month moving average.

Data source: ABS Labour Force, Australia, Detailed

Employment - by industry

The latest industry level statistics for the Hunter are to February 2025. The 6 months prior showed large declines in manufacturing (-3,900 full time equivalent employees, FTEs, for a 12 month decline of 6,900 FTEs); Accommodation and food services (down 3,100 FTEs) and Wholesale trade (down 2,700 FTEs). Agriculture, Construction and most services industries (excluding health and education) saw increases in employment.

Data source: ABS Labour Force, Australia, Detailed

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.