Post-Census updates
JobSeeker recipients
About this topic
This page tracks JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (other) recipients for Darebin (C) at SA2 level. It provides a more current signal of labour-market stress and socio-economic pressure than Census-only views.
The current comparison uses January 2026 against June 2023. Rates are calculated against the available ERP 15-64 population for each period.
Related topics
Key insight
In January 2026, 6,595 people in Darebin (C) were receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance (other), equal to 5.7% of the working-age population, compared with 4,965 (4.5%) in June 2023. Reservoir - South East had the highest current rate and Kingsbury the lowest.
6,595
Recipients January 2026
5.7% of 15-64 population
+1,630
Change since June 2023
4.5% to 5.7%
8.1%
Highest SA2 rate
Reservoir - South East
3.4%
Lowest SA2 rate
Kingsbury
Chart view
Recipients by SA2
Current rate on the bar, comparison rate as the marker. Sorted by current rate.
Reservoir - South East
8.1%
6.1%
Preston - East
7.3%
5.6%
Reservoir - North East
6.5%
5.9%
Reservoir - North West
6.5%
5.8%
Reservoir - South West
6.2%
5.2%
Thornbury
5.6%
3.7%
Preston - West
5.3%
4.4%
Northcote - West
4.7%
2.8%
Alphington - Fairfield
4.2%
2.9%
Northcote - East
4.1%
2.8%
Kingsbury
3.4%
2.9%
Data table
JobSeeker rates by SA2
Download recipient counts and rates for the current and comparison months.
| SA2 | January 2026 recipients | January 2026 rate | June 2023 recipients | June 2023 rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir - South East | 765 | 8.1% | 560 | 6.1% |
| Preston - East | 1,230 | 7.3% | 925 | 5.6% |
| Reservoir - North East | 745 | 6.5% | 650 | 5.9% |
| Reservoir - North West | 385 | 6.5% | 340 | 5.8% |
| Reservoir - South West | 665 | 6.2% | 545 | 5.2% |
| Thornbury | 820 | 5.6% | 530 | 3.7% |
| Preston - West | 505 | 5.3% | 405 | 4.4% |
| Northcote - West | 385 | 4.7% | 225 | 2.8% |
| Alphington - Fairfield | 290 | 4.2% | 200 | 2.9% |
| Northcote - East | 470 | 4.1% | 320 | 2.8% |
| Kingsbury | 335 | 3.4% | 265 | 2.9% |