Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of jobs in the ACT plunged 4.8 per cent between March 28 and April 4 while earnings fell 5.3 per cent, part of a sharp nationwide contraction in employment and incomes brought on by health measures intended to combat the disease's spread.

The hardest-hit state was Tasmania, where jobs plummeted by 7.3 per cent in the three weeks to April 4, though total wages in Victoria fell more sharply over the period, down 8.8 per cent. Only the Northern Territory, where earnings plunged by 17.6 per cent, experienced a steeper decline.

The figures were released as National Cabinet discussed the hit to employment caused by social distancing restrictions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison informed National Cabinet that 517,000 JobSeeker claims had been processed since March 16.

"By the end of this week we will have processed as many JobSeeker claims in six weeks than we would normally do in the entirety of the year," Mr Morrison told a media conference following the National Cabinet meeting.

The ABS data and JobSeeker claims figures lend weight to warnings of a massive hit to employment and incomes caused by the health crisis.

Treasury has forecast unemployment will reach 10 per cent in the June quarter, representing about 1.4 million people rendered jobless by the pandemic, while the Grattan Institute think-tank estimates the number of unemployed could reach 3.4 million in coming weeks.

The ABS figures, based on data from the Single Touch Payroll system, show that the toll of job and wage losses is falling unevenly across the community.

The accommodation and food services sector has been hardest hit, with the number of jobs down by a quarter between March 14 and April 4, and total wages 30.1 per cent lower.

Arts and recreations services have also been hit hard. Jobs in the industry plunged almost 19 per cent over the three-week period, and earnings fell 15.7 per cent.

The least affected industries over the same period were education and training (almost no loss of jobs), utilities (a 1 per cent fall), healthcare (a 2.5 per cent drop) and transport and warehousing (a 3 per cent decline).

The ABS data confirms other analysis that the young have borne the brunt of the employment downturn.

In the three weeks to April 4, almost 10 per cent of jobs among those 20 years or younger were lost, and almost 9 per cent of positions held by 20- to 29-year-olds.

Workers in their 50s were the least affected. Over the three week period, total jobs in the 50 to 59 year age group dropped by 3.8 per cent.

The ABS has also added to evidence from empty roads and shops and sharply lower infection rates that Australians have taken the COVID-19 threat seriously and changed their behaviour accordingly.

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A survey of more than 1000 people conducted by the statistician in the first week of April found that in the previous four weeks almost all (98 per cent) reported practicing social distancing, and almost 90 per cent said they avoided public spaces or events and had cancelled get-togethers with friends or family.

These changes reflected a widespread awareness of the danger posed by the virus. More than two-thirds said they were concerned or very concerned about their personal health because of the spread of the infection.

The ABS survey found women were more likely to take the threat seriously: 73 per cent reported they were concerned or very concerned, compared with 62 per cent of men.

Unsurprisingly, given evidence that the elderly are most at risk from COVID-19, the ABS found levels of concern were highest among those older than 65 years (71 per cent) but this was only marginally more than the 67 per cent of younger people who reported heightened concern for their health.

But, in a sign that governments have a way to go in convincing many people of the need to vaccinate against influenza, almost five million said they had no plan to get a flu shot.

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