Why Losing Your Job Hurts Like a Divorce (Even When You Keep 84% of Your Income)

Australia's 2026 minimum wage increase promises higher pay for millions of workers, but beneath the headlines lies a surprising psychological reality. Drawing on Fair Work Commission data, cost-of-living research, and the HILDA longitudinal survey, we explore why unemployment can be as emotionally devastating as a divorce—even when government support replaces most of a worker's income. From inflation and wage growth to mental health, identity, and the hidden value of work, this episode reveals why economics is about far more than money.