The alarming rise in the unemployment rate highlights the increasingly tough economic conditions faced by Australians under the Albanese Labor Government.

The April 2024 labour force figures show the unemployment rate increased to an unexpected 4.1% with the loss of 6100 full time jobs, the underemployment rate increased to 6.6% and the number of unemployed Australians increased to 604,200, which is an increase of more than 50,000 since the Albanese Government’s election.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said hardworking Australians are suffering under the Albanese Labor Government.

“Australians’ standard of living has been smashed under Labor’s economic mismanagement. Unfortunately, the Budget this week has proven the government has no plans to restore it,” Mr Taylor said.

“We needed a Budget that restored our standard of living by addressing inflation and cost of living pressures, restored prosperity and created opportunity by supporting small businesses and enhancing incentives to work, and restored budget discipline and honesty,” he said.

“Instead, the Treasurer handed down a big spending, big taxing, big government con job.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said the Albanese Government’s economic and industrial relations policies were making life tougher for Australians.

“There is great uncertainty amongst the business community about the future – particularly in small businesses,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Small business owners feel like they got nothing out of this week’s Budget and have been left to fend for themselves during this cost-of-doing-business crisis,’’ she said.

“They are dealing with the cost, confusion and complexity of the Albanese Government’s ideological industrial relations changes which will make it even tougher for them to employ more Australians,’’ Senator Cash said.

“This Government just doesn’t get small business and in the end that will mean fewer jobs for Australians,’’ she said.

ENDS