Incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia
Australia: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
16th
of 38 countries
All-time high
30.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 1978
All-time low
18.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 1994
Years of data
48
1978–2025
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia, 1978–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia stood at 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia peaked at 30.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1978 and was at its lowest, 18.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1994.
Australia ranks 16th of 38 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 30.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1979 | 27.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -9.2% |
| 1980 | 27.85 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 28.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 22.98 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -19.6% |
| 1984 | 22 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 21.89 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 23.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 22.86 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.5% |
| 1988 | 23.53 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 25.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 27.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 21.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -19.6% |
| 1992 | 20.28 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 19.18 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 18.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 19.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.1% |
| 1996 | 20.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 20.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 19.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 20.47 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 20.69 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 21.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 20.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.4% |
| 2003 | 20.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 19.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 20.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 21.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 20.46 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 21.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 26.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +27.4% |
| 2010 | 25.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 26.2 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 26.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 26.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 24.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 24.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 23.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 23.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 24.09 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 25.49 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 24.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 21.78 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -11.3% |
| 2022 | 24.34 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.8% |
| 2023 | 27.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +12.4% |
| 2024 | 26.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.9% |
| 2025 | 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.88 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 27.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 30.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 2 |
| 1980s | 24.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 21.89 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 18.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 27.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 26.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 23.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 26.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.85 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 21.78 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 27.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 13 Russian Federation 26.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Argentina 25.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 15 Japan 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 17 Malta 23.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 18 Belgium 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 19 France 23.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for Australia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5202 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9895 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8931 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 30,186 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,001 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,642 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 21,502 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 43,144 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in Australia was 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1978.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1994.
- How does Australia rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- Australia ranks 16th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.