Australia’s banking probe could see job cuts in the finance and real-estate sectors equivalent to losses during the 2008 global financial crisis, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan analysts led by Sally Auld see three main channels for the Royal Commission to exert influence on the Australian economy: tighter lending standards and slower credit growth; wealth effects through housing; and industry restructuring.
“The finance and real-estate sectors now represent 12 percent of gross domestic product,” said Auld, head of fixed-income and currency strategy for Australia at JPMorgan, noting both have been growing above their long-term trend. “So some consolidation seems likely. We think employment in these industries could contract by 8 percent from peak to trough.”
JPMorgan notes the major eastern states are more highly leveraged to finance and real estate. Of all jobs in these sectors, 68 percent are in New South Wales and Victoria.
The industries respectively account for almost 7 percent and 5 percent of total employment in each state.