(Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Newy 87.8 FM – The unemployment rate across the combined Hunter region rose from 4.2 per cent in July to 4.6 per cent in August 2026, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force data released on 24 September.
The figure covers the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region together with the Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle. The number of unemployed people rose from about 16,700 to about 18,200, while the labour force grew by around 850 people.
Employment across the two regions fell by roughly 670 in August, from 376,600 to 375,900. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 4.6 per cent.
The data landed on the same day as Business NSW's Q3 2026 Business Conditions Survey, which found a modest rebound in confidence has not translated into jobs. Just 12 per cent of NSW businesses plan to hire additional staff over the next three months, while 21 per cent expect to reduce headcount.
The outlook is weakest in accommodation and food services, where just 8 per cent of businesses plan to hire and almost one in three expect to cut staff.
The survey's Business Confidence Index rebounded from -78.0 in May to -65.0, but remains deeply negative. Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said employers were "still not confident enough to take on more staff".
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