Australians dissatisfied and fearful of job losses
Australians are reporting life satisfaction at a record low as war in the Middle East causes fuel prices to soar and workers fear AI job losses.
The population is now less satisfied than during COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the latest in a series of surveys from the Australian National University.
The decline between December 2025 and March 2026 was not as dramatic as the drop in average life satisfaction when pandemic stay-at-home orders were imposed and occurred from a lower base.
“Life satisfaction was already low, making the current situation a culmination of sustained deterioration rather than a sudden decline,” said Nicholas Biddle, head of the ANU School of Politics and International Affairs.
“Australia in March 2026 is a country under serious pressure.”
The sample of more than 3,600 opinions was the ANU’s first poll since the Iran war triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Prices at the pump reacted quickly to lower oil supplies, not only penalizing drivers but also increasing the cost of transporting goods and threatening broader economic consequences.
The university’s latest test of public mood was also the first to capture the full change in sentiment following the terror attack in Bondi.
In March, Australians in record numbers reported struggling to get by on their current income and became increasingly concerned about job security.
“The unemployment rate in Australia is just over four per cent, which is a low figure by any standard,” Professor Biddle told AAP.
“Despite this, more than a quarter of people currently employed expect to lose their job in the next 12 months.”
Along with the troubled economic outlook, the emergence of artificial intelligence tools may also be playing a role; Almost a third of Australians are particularly concerned that they will be replaced by machines.
Fears of job losses in automation have nearly doubled since 2018.
The survey was conducted after local tech firm Atlassian cut 1,600 jobs, including 500 in Australia, citing changes in AI workforce needs.
Despite the public’s negative outlook, democratic attitudes remain strikingly resilient.
Assessments of how well democracy is working in Australia have remained relatively stable; About two-thirds are satisfied or very satisfied.
Non-British immigrants were found to support democratic norms at similar levels as the rest of the population and were more confident in the direction of the country than Australian-born citizens.
Australia’s Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national news channel and has been providing accurate, reliable and fast-paced news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We inform Australia.
