In the run-up to the election, Mr Abbott repeatedly vowed to create 1 million new jobs over five years, and 2 million over a decade, by scrapping the carbon and mining taxes, cutting red tape for business, and boosting productivity, among other measures.

By combining employment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics with Treasury's jobs growth forecast in last month's mini-budget, the library calculated the Australian economy would add about 620,000 jobs over the next four years. Even allowing for a fifth year, the figures show the government will fall well short of 1 million new jobs.

The mini-budget, or midyear economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO), was the government's first major economic statement.

The analysis follows broken Coalition promises on school funding and the roll-out of the National Broadband Network, as well as hints at changes to paid parental leave, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Medicare. It also comes as the government battles the political fallout of job losses with the planned pull-out by Holden and lay-offs by SPC Ardmona.

Acting Treasurer Mathias Cormann stood by the government's jobs pledge, blaming Labor for the modest jobs growth forecast in the MYEFO.