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Data from Australian Bureau of Statistics. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
AustraliaAustralia Part Time Employment Chg climbed to -7.9K in April 2026
Australian Bureau of StatisticsMonthlyReleased May 2026
Australia Part Time Employment Chg climbed to -7.9K in April 2026, released May 2026, up 32.1K from March's -40K reading. The print exceeded the -30K consensus by 22.1K. The print is running well below the 12-month average of 7.15K. Over the past 3 months, Part Time Employment Chg averaged 22.4K, vs 1.25K in the prior 3-month window. The reading is in the 37th percentile of the trailing 24-month range.
Latest Release
-7.9
Actual
-30
Consensus
-40
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±25.29 thousand
across last 12 releases
Last Call
May 2026
Predicted: 6.2
Actual: -7.9
Error: +14.1
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAU/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.89 | COMMODITIES | Moves against | → View |
| AUD/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.59 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| BTC/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.47 | CRYPTO | Moves with | → View |
| AUD/JPY | ▼ Inverse | −0.30 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Part Time Employment Chg (Australia) was reported at -8 thousand in May 2026. This beat the market consensus of -30 thousand by 22 thousand. The reading rose from the previous value of -40 thousand. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through May 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 15 thousand, ranging from -33 thousand to 79 thousand across 7 releases.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 13 thousand, up from the prior three at 9 thousand. Volatility over the past year (σ 35 thousand) is comparable than the prior year (σ 35 thousand). In May readings over the past 3 years, Part Time Employment Chg has averaged 22 thousand.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is negatively correlated with XAU/USD (Bearish XAU). A secondary relationship exists with AUD/USD, negatively correlated (Bearish AUD). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 25 thousand.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for August 20, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include Westpac Consumer Confidence Index (Aug 18) and Westpac Consumer Confidence Change (Aug 18).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update May 2026.
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Part Time Employment Chg - AU
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About Part Time Employment Chg — Australia
DEFINITION
Part Time Employment Chg is a financial indicator that measures the change in the number of individuals employed in part-time positions. This data is often used to assess the overall health of the job market and can provide insights into shifts in employment trends and economic conditions. It is a valuable tool for businesses, investors, and policymakers to make informed decisions and projections.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
This release contributes to the broader macro picture used by cross-asset investors for positioning and risk management. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Apr 2026): actual -7.9 K, consensus -30 K. Prior reading (Mar 2026): -34.6 K. Before that (Feb 2026): 79.4 K.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a materially higher reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with XAU/USD (Bearish XAU, r=-0.89) — a useful reference for commodities-focused traders.
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Economic Calendar - AU Events
| Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:30 | AU | Westpac Consumer Confidence Index | 83.9 | 81.7 | 83.60 | Medium | |
| 00:30 | AU | Westpac Consumer Confidence Change | 4.1 | -2.6 | -0.30 | High | |
| Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
| 01:30 | AU | Wage Price Index YoY | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.20 | Low | |
| 01:30 | AU | Wage Price Index QoQ | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.80 | Low | |
| Thursday, August 20, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
| 01:00 | AU | Consumer Inflation Expectation | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.05 | Low | |
| 01:30 | AU | Participation Rate | 67 | 67.1 | 67.05 | Low | |
| 01:30 | AU | Unemployment Rate | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.60 | Medium | |
| 01:30 | AU | Employment Change | 76.3 | 12.5 | -5.55 | Medium | |
| 23:00 | AU | S&P Global Composite PMI | 53.2 | 51.9 | 50.80 | Low | |
| 23:00 | AU | S&P Global Services PMI | 53.6 | 52.5 | 51.40 | Medium | |
| 23:00 | AU | S&P Global Manufacturing PMI | 52 | 50.9 | 50.70 | Medium | |