This new dataset released by the Department of Social Services is updated monthly. This represents the number of people who are eligible recipients of JobSeeker allowance (generally aged 22+) and youth allowance (excluding students, generally aged 21 and under). To be eligible for JobSeeker, which replaced Newstart allowance in March 2020, participants must be unemployed and looking for work, though certain activity criteria have been relaxed during the COVID-19 period.

JobSeeker rates are a good updated measure of socio-economic disadvantage in an area, and should be looked at in conjunction with 2016 Census SEIFA indexes, employment status, income and education levels. They can also provide an indication of which areas within your region are most affected by the impacts of COVID-19 containment measures.

JobSeeker data are shown for Local Government Areas, and SA2s which have a significant population within the LGA or region.