Post-Census updates
JobSeeker recipients
This page tracks JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (other) recipients for Melbourne (C) at SA2 level. It provides a more current signal of labour-market stress and socio-economic pressure than Census-only views.
Related topics
About this topic
This page tracks JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (other) recipients for Melbourne (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.
Key insight
In January 2026, 5,541 people in Melbourne (C) were receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance (other), equal to 3.3% of the working-age population, compared with 3,991 (2.6%) in June 2023. Flemington Racecourse had the highest current rate and Melbourne CBD - North the lowest.
5,541
Recipients January 2026
3.3% of 15-64 population
+1,550
Change since June 2023
2.6% to 3.3%
19.5%
Highest SA2 rate
Flemington Racecourse
1.8%
Lowest SA2 rate
Melbourne CBD - North
Chart view
Recipients by SA2
Current rate on the bar, comparison rate as the marker. Sorted by current rate.
Flemington Racecourse
19.5%
6.5%
North Melbourne
6.1%
5.1%
Kensington (Vic.) (part)
5.7%
3.7%
Carlton North - Princes Hill (part)
5.0%
3.1%
Carlton
4.4%
3.7%
Port Melbourne Industrial (part)
4.0%
3.2%
East Melbourne
3.6%
2.1%
Melbourne CBD - West
3.5%
2.9%
Parkville
3.5%
1.9%
West Melbourne - Residential
3.3%
2.8%
South Yarra - West
2.7%
1.7%
Southbank (West) - South Wharf
2.3%
2.0%
Melbourne CBD - East
2.3%
1.8%
Docklands
2.1%
1.3%
Southbank - East
1.9%
1.2%
Melbourne CBD - North
1.8%
1.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flemington Racecourse | 15 | 19.5% | 5 | 6.5% |
| North Melbourne | 990 | 6.1% | 765 | 5.1% |
| Kensington (Vic.) (part) | 515 | 5.7% | 320 | 3.7% |
| Carlton North - Princes Hill (part) | 0 | 5.0% | 0 | 3.1% |
| Carlton | 970 | 4.4% | 720 | 3.7% |
| Port Melbourne Industrial (part) | 1 | 4.0% | 1 | 3.2% |
| East Melbourne | 135 | 3.6% | 80 | 2.1% |
| Melbourne CBD - West | 725 | 3.5% | 560 | 2.9% |
| Parkville | 250 | 3.5% | 130 | 1.9% |
| West Melbourne - Residential | 275 | 3.3% | 220 | 2.8% |
| South Yarra - West | 130 | 2.7% | 80 | 1.7% |
| Southbank (West) - South Wharf | 155 | 2.3% | 125 | 2.0% |
| Melbourne CBD - East | 285 | 2.3% | 210 | 1.8% |
| Docklands | 335 | 2.1% | 200 | 1.3% |
| Southbank - East | 340 | 1.9% | 210 | 1.2% |
| Melbourne CBD - North | 405 | 1.8% | 355 | 1.7% |