Employment rate in Australia
Australia: Employment rate was 63.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Australia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Australia is 63.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Australia peaked at 64.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 55.8%, in 1993.
Australia ranks 43rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.5% | 55.8% | 58.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 60.8% | 59.2% | 62.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.7% | 60.8% | 62.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.4% | 60.9% | 64.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More work & labour data for Australia
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 70.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 70.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 70.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 88.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Australia?
- Employment rate in Australia was 63.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.8% in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for employment rate?
- Australia ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.