The number of Australians working second jobs fell for a second straight quarter, with seasonally adjusted Labour Account figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing a 1.2 per cent drop to 1.0 million secondary jobs in the June quarter 2025.
Sean Crick, ABS head of labour statistics, said: ‘Secondary jobs fell by 12,200 in the June quarter, and fell 1.9 per cent or 20,500 jobs through the year to June.
‘June quarter 2025 was the first time we have seen two consecutive quarterly declines in secondary jobs in the six years since June quarter 2019. As a result, there are now 40,100 less multiple job-holders compared to six months ago in December quarter 2024.
‘The fall in secondary jobs saw the proportion of people working multiple jobs decrease by 0.1 percentage points to 6.4 per cent’ Mr Crick added.
Despite the decline in secondary jobs, overall labour demand continued to expand. Filled jobs rose 0.2 per cent (up 35,300) to 16.0 million, driven by a 0.3 per cent lift in main jobs. Total hours worked increased 0.3 per cent in the quarter to 6.0 billion, up 1.6 per cent over the year, with average hours worked per filled job edging 0.1 per cent higher.
Job vacancies rose by 9,600 (2.9 per cent) in the quarter, taking the vacancy rate to 2.1 per cent. The ABS said the share of vacant jobs has been stabilising around 2.0 to 2.1 per cent over the 2024–25 financial year.
Non-market industries — Public administration and safety, Education and training, and Health care and social assistance — drove most of the annual gains in employment. Non-market filled jobs rose 3.6 per cent (168,400) over the year to June, accounting for about 62 per cent of total jobs growth. Market sector jobs increased 0.9 per cent (103,100), contributing the remaining 38 per cent. Over the year, hours worked grew 1.6 per cent, with non-market industries up 3.5 per cent and responsible for 60 per cent of that growth. By sector, private employers accounted for around three-quarters of the annual growth in filled jobs, up 1.5 per cent (205,300), while public sector jobs rose 2.8 per cent (66,600).
Thirteen of 19 industries recorded quarterly falls in secondary jobs. The largest declines were in Accommodation and food services (down 5,000), Professional, scientific and technical services (down 3,600) and Agriculture, forestry and fishing (down 2,100). Eleven industries have now seen two consecutive quarterly falls in secondary jobs, with Education and training recording the biggest six‑month drop (down 13,400). Some industries posted gains, including Health care and social assistance, Public administration and safety, Retail trade and Mining.
All data are seasonally adjusted. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Account, June quarter 2025.
