Tasmania's unemployment hits 5.1% as state ranks last economically
Tasmania has the nation's highest unemployment rate and ranked last on the quarterly economic measure for all of 2026.
Tasmania's unemployment has climbed from 3.8% a year ago to 5.1%, the highest in Australia, according to Commonwealth Bank's latest State of the States report. The state has ranked last on the quarterly measure for the entire year, a sharp reversal from four years ago when it regularly topped the rankings.
Labour income is slowing faster than most states except Western Australia and the ACT. Housing investment fell 6.2%.
The one bright spot is household spending, up 2.1%, possibly because older residents with paid-off mortgages are less affected by rising interest rates. The bank warns employment growth is so weak that unemployment will likely keep rising.
- 5.1% (up from 3.8% year ago)
- Unemployment rate
- 6.2%
- Housing investment fall
- 2.1%
- Household consumption growth
Why it mattersWeak job growth and high unemployment signal that Tasmania's workers face tougher hiring conditions and stagnant wages, raising the risk that household spending eventually slows.
AustraliaTasmanian job seekers face the nation's worst employment market, while the state's economic struggles may prompt federal and state policy responses to reverse the decline.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 9 d ago
