Sure, if 2% of workforce lost their jobs, thus raising unemployment by 2% (I think?) that would have no impact on housing at all. I forgot, low unemployment rates help housing, increasing unemployment rates are neutral. I always forgot how things can only help housing in one direction - sorry by bad.
Rental vacancy rate is 2.4% according to REIWA. Up significantly over past 6 months, and still increasing (to REIWA's surpise as they state in their latest market report). In fact, REIWA is actually suggesting rents may go down a bit in the future based on this. http://reiwa.com.au/home/default.aspx
Bulls often throw around the massive numbers moving to Perth, and suggest this as a positive to housing. If that reduces, or even reverses on the basis of job losses in mining and mining related industries, will that then be a negative for housing? Or again does it only work one way.
