Australian industrial disputes fell in number during the December quarter of 2025, yet the scale and impact of these conflicts grew significantly.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the total number of disputes dropped to 77—down from 87 in the September 2025 quarter—but the number of affected staff climbed to 49,500.
The surge in participation pushed total working days lost to 69,600, marking the highest level of disruption since June 2022.
The ABS data reveals that the friction was felt nationwide, with industrial action recorded across every state, territory, and industry.
Enterprise bargaining remains the primary catalyst, with most disagreements centred on remuneration and employment conditions.
While the volume of individual disputes may have cooled, the intensity in sectors such as construction, transport, and metal manufacturing suggests a broadening of industrial unrest as 2026 begins.