The vibe across the Australian business landscape this Thursday is, frankly, a bit of a mess. If you were looking for a clear sign that 2026 is going to be easy, business news today australia just handed you a reality check instead. On one hand, the stock market is doing its best to look healthy. On the other, the people actually running businesses—from corner shops to mining giants—are staring down a barrel of rising costs and a job market that's finally starting to crack.
Basically, we're in the middle of a "January Jolt."
The ASX 200 is Winning (For Now)
It’s actually been a pretty rosy week for the local share market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) managed to crawl up another 0.47% today, landing at 8,861.7 points. That’s four days of wins in a row. You'd think everyone would be popping champagne, but the gains are lopsided.
Mining stocks are the reason your super fund might look okay this afternoon. South32 (ASX: S32) shot up by 4.55% today, even though they didn't actually release any news. It’s just that "resource fever" that hits when metal prices look good. BHP and BlueScope Steel weren't far behind.
But if you’re a tech investor? Ouch. The IT sector got absolutely hammered, dropping over 2% in a single session. Wisetech and Xero have been dragging the chain, and with Wall Street looking shaky, the "tech-optimism" of 2025 is starting to feel like a distant memory.
The Job Market Reality Check
Here is the thing that’s actually worrying the people in Canberra: the private sector just isn't hiring like it used to. Fresh data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that job vacancies fell by 5.2% recently.
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We are sitting at about 326,700 vacancies across the country. That sounds like a lot, but it’s actually over 30% lower than the peak we saw back in May 2022. If you live in Tasmania, the news is worse—vacancies there plummeted by nearly 15%.
The only place that seems to be immune to the slump is Western Australia, which saw a 4.1% increase in openings. It’s the same old story: if you can dig it out of the ground, you’re probably doing okay.
"Companies are laying off in areas that no longer align with near-term priorities while hiring aggressively in functions tied to revenue," says Kara Dennison from Resume.org.
Basically, it's a "rebalancing."
And it's not just the private sector feeling the pinch. Service NSW—the massive government arm that handles your car rego and birth certificates—is reportedly preparing to slash jobs by up to 60% in some divisions. Staff are apparently "hanging by a thread" as the state tries to fix a massive budget deficit. It's a tough look for the largest employer in the country.
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The Big Rate Hike Divided: Will the RBA Jump?
This is the big one. Everyone is obsessed with what the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will do on February 3rd. Honestly, the experts can't agree on anything.
- The "Hike" Camp: Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and NAB are convinced a rate hike is coming. They think the cash rate needs to hit 3.85% to finally kill off "sticky" inflation.
- The "Hold" Camp: ANZ and Westpac are more cautious. They reckon the RBA will wait for more data because, well, hiking rates when job vacancies are falling is a risky move.
CBA has already started moving ahead of the RBA, though. They just bumped up their fixed mortgage rates. If you're looking at a $1 million loan, a 0.25% hike in the official cash rate would add about **$150 a month** to your repayments. That’s a lot of grocery money.
Speaking of groceries, the ACCC is currently breathing down the necks of the big supermarkets. There is a lot of public anger about the "cost of living crisis," and the regulators are finally starting to show some teeth regarding pricing conduct.
New Rules You Probably Missed
Since January 1st, 2026, several massive changes have hit Australian businesses that haven't made the front pages yet.
First, there is the mandatory merger regime. If a big company wants to buy a smaller one now, they have to tell the ACCC and wait for a green light. No more "informal" handshakes. This is designed to stop the big players from just swallowing the competition whole.
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Then there’s the "Cash is King" rule. Most retailers are now legally required to accept cash for transactions under $500. It’s a win for people who hate the "tap and go" surcharges that have been creeping up everywhere.
In Queensland, things are changing for government contracts too. The state has set a 30% target for small and medium businesses to get a slice of the pie. It’s a huge shift aimed at helping family-run shops instead of just the big multinationals.
What This Means for Your Wallet
So, what should you actually do with all this business news today australia?
If you're a business owner, you've got to watch your payroll tax. States like the ACT are hiking rates for bigger employers, and those costs add up fast. If you're an employee, it might be time to brush up on your "AI-adjacent" skills. The data shows that while general hiring is down, companies are desperate for people who can actually use new tech to drive efficiency.
For investors, the volatility in tech isn't over. The "AI bubble" that everyone talked about in 2024 and 2025 is being tested by actual earnings reports. If a company isn't making money now, the market is punishing them. Stick to the "dirt and dollars"—the miners and the banks—if you want to sleep better at night.
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead:
- Check your mortgage: If you're on a variable rate or your fixed term is ending, talk to a broker now. The "big four" banks are already pricing in a February hike.
- Audit your tech spend: Small businesses should look at the new Queensland procurement rules if they're based up North; there's money on the table for SMEs.
- Update your resume: With vacancies falling 5.2% nationwide, the "Great Resignation" power is officially back in the hands of the employers. Don't quit without a backup plan.
The next big date to circle in your calendar is January 28th. That’s when the Q4 inflation data drops. If that number is high, you can bet your bottom dollar the RBA will pull the trigger in February.