West Aussies seek more work hours amid cost of living pressures, WA Liberal senator Dean Smith says

More than 76,000 West Australians were looking for more work hours last month as cost-of-living pressure continues to bite.

Shadow assistant minister for cost-of-living, WA Liberal senator Dean Smith, highlighted the Australian Bureau of Statistics data this week, which showed West Aussies were seeking more work.

“The labour force data shows 76,400 Western Australians were looking for more hours of work in May — the highest number since November 2020, an increase of 12,500 people since January this year,” Mr Smith said.

“These figures show that while many West Australians have a job, more and more West Australians cannot get the hours they need to keep up with Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.”

Mr Smith said WA’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had also increased from 3.8 per cent in January 2025 to 4.7 per cent in May 2026 — an increase of almost 24 per cent in just 16 months.

“While Western Australia’s economy may appear strong on the surface, the ABS figures show more households are struggling under financial pressure, with an increasing number of workers unable to secure enough hours to keep with up with rising mortgage payments, rising grocery bills and insurance costs — and rental and energy price increases,” he said.

The new figures follow social welfare data which showed demand for hardship services is continuing to climb.

Financial Wellbeing Collective data for the end of the 2025-26 financial year showed calls for the emergency relief and food access service climbed 24 per cent — rising from 37,332 to 46,356 calls.

Calls handled by the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme Service Centre increased by 8 per cent over the past financial year — rising from 32,654 to 35,174 calls.

The average utility debt per HUGS client had also increased by 15 per cent since 2022-23 to $1,975.81.

Financial Wellbeing Collective general manager Helena Jakupovic said cost-of-living pressures and “low/restricted” incomes had remained the leading reason people seeking assistance through ERFAS and HUGS over the past four years.

She said the proportion of ERFAS clients citing cost-of-living hardship has increased 60 per cent since 2022-23.

“Year after year, we’re seeing more Western Australians reach out for help. This isn’t a temporary spike in hardship — it’s a sign that cost-of-living pressures are becoming entrenched in the lives of individuals and families across our community,” said financial well-being general manager Helena Jakupovic.

“The data shows financial hardship is becoming deeper, more complex and more persistent. Rising utility debt, increasing risk of homelessness and the number of people returning for support all point to growing pressure that cannot be addressed through crisis services alone or by short term solutions.”