Dozens of jobseekers queue outside a Subway store in Melbourne, illustrating Australia’s worsening employment climate. A viral video filmed by a German student reveals the scale of competition for even entry-level jobs amid a slowdown in full-time hiring.
Australia’s employment landscape is shifting as rising joblessness and slowing economic activity increase the pressure on low-wage workers. The video, captured outside a Subway franchise in Melbourne, shows a line of people stretching for metres — all hoping to secure a single role at the fast-food chain.
This visual anecdote has sparked renewed scrutiny of the labour market’s capacity to absorb jobseekers, particularly in major cities like Melbourne and Sydney. While official figures still portray relatively stable employment conditions, on-the-ground realities suggest a more strained picture.
Spike in Unemployment Reflects Weakening Private Sector Demand
Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in June, its highest level since late 2021, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The increase, while numerically modest, coincides with a sharp decline in full-time job creation. In June alone, 38,000 full-time positions were lost, while 40,000 part-time roles were added — suggesting a shift towards more precarious forms of employment.
According to Innes Willox, chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, the underlying cause is weakening private sector demand. “With the private sector accounting for two-thirds of employment in Australia, it was inevitable that its sustained weakness would eventually spill over to the broader labour market,” Willox said.
The slowdown has been most acutely felt in New South Wales and Victoria, states with the highest population densities and the most competitive urban job markets. The shift away from stable employment has left many workers — particularly young people and migrants — with limited options, as evidenced by the large turnout at entry-level interviews such as the one captured in Melbourne.
Social Strain Emerges as Migration and Job Competition Intensify
Australia’s population growth, largely driven by migration, is increasingly intersecting with a softening labour market. According to Daniel Wild, deputy executive director at the Institute of Public Affairs, “Excessive migration has played a significant role in pummelling Australia’s economic productivity.” The job queue video has reignited debates about whether the country’s current migration settings are sustainable in the context of limited job availability.
On social media, users expressed frustration at the growing competition for basic employment. Comments ranged from empathy — “now you can start to understand what it feels like for those of us who’ve lived here our whole lives” — to anger at perceived governmental failures.
