Australia loses 227,000 more jobs, taking unemployment to 7.1%

Proportion of people aged 15 and over in work has shrunk from 62.5% to 58.7%, ABS says

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Australia lost a further 227,000 jobs between April and May, resulting in a total loss of 835,000 jobs in seasonally adjusted terms since March and a 0.7% jump in unemployment to 7.1%.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the data on Thursday, revealing the Covid-19 contraction has slashed the jobs of women and young people in particular, while the unemployment rate is suppressed by near record-low participation and three million Australians whose jobs are supported by the jobkeeper wage subsidies.

Related: The worst may be over for Australian job losses - but recovery has a long way to go | Greg Jericho

Related: Australian job loss tracker: the industries and places most affected by the coronavirus crisis

Related: Experts warn of housing 'time bomb' when Covid rent laws expire and welfare halves

Today's ABS figures reveal there are now more than 311,000 young Australians without work. Youth unemployment rate of 16.1 per cent, compared to the national rate of 7.1 per cent. A devastating indication of the impact this pandemic is having on our young population #auspol