SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is expected to post its biggest ever monthly rise in unemployment on Thursday because of coronavirus lockdown measures, even as the country begins to gradually ease those social distancing rules.
The jobless figures from the country's statistics office will provide a stark illustration of the pandemic's effect on the national economy, which had experienced an unbroken run of growth for more than two decades.
A Reuters poll of 16 analysts has forecast the loss of 575,000 jobs in April, an unprecedented number that would take the unemployment rate to 8.3%, the highest level since 1997.
"It will be a horrible set of numbers," said Gareth Aird, senior economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTC:CMWAY).
"Employment will fall sharply, hours worked will plummet, the unemployment rate will spike and the participation rate is set to drop."
(GRAPHIC-Australia's Unemployment Rate Forecast in April link: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/yxmvjoxobpr/Australia%20Unemployment%20in%20April.PNG)
And worse is expected, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last week forecasting unemployment to hit about 10% as the local economy shrinks by 8% in the year to June.
Australia imposed strict social distancing measures in March to tackle the pandemic, closing its borders to all non-citizens and ordering people to stay home unless on essential business. Pubs, sports centres, libraries and other public buildings were closed while cafes and restaurants were restricted to takeaway services.
Many shops and other businesses not explicitly ordered to close did so anyway in response to a drop off in demand as people stayed home.
Officials have credited the lockdown measures with constraining the spread of the virus. Australia has recorded about 7,000 COVID-19 cases, including 98 deaths, significantly below the levels reported in North America and Europe.
New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, on Thursday reported just four new cases ahead of the lifting of some restrictions on Friday.
"The increase in activity does mean extra cases," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said as the state's 7 million residents prepared for the ability to leave their homes without a reason.
The federal government has a three-step plan to remove all social distancing restrictions by July, but the implementation is largely down to individual state and territory leaders.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said earlier this week that easing restrictions would increase gross domestic product by A$9.4 billion ($6.10 billion) each month.