# Australia’s unemployment hits 4-1/2 year high, lessens risk of rate rise By Reuters

> Australian employment fell 18,600 in April while the unemployment rate rose to 4.5%, the highest since November 2021. Markets cut the June RBA hike probability to about 8%.

- Date: 2026-05-21 · published 2026-05-21T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region Australia · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19504-australia-s-unemployment-hits-4-1-2-year-high-lessens-risk-of-rate-rise-by
- Commodities: [Australian Dollar (USD per AUD)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/AUDUSD.md)

## Why it matters

A softer labour market reduces the likelihood of further RBA tightening, which weighs on the AUD and modestly lowers the currency's support for Australian commodity export prices.

## Read by commodity

- AUDUSD: bearish ▼

## Sources

- investing.com: https://www.investing.com/news/economic-indicators/australia-jobs-slip-in-april-unemployment-hits-highest-since-2021-4702904

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.