Labor force participation rate by age in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate by age was 70.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
70.2%
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
9th
of 188 countries
All-time high
72.1%
in 1990
All-time low
65.5%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Australia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Australia stood at 70.2%.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Australia peaked at 72.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.5%, in 2020.
Australia ranks 9th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate by age in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 72.1% | — |
| 1991 | 69.7% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 69.4% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 68.7% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 70.6% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 71.7% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 71.7% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 70.1% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 69.9% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 70.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 70.7% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 70.2% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 70.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 70.8% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 70.8% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 70.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 70.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 69.1% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 68.4% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 68.1% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 67.5% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 66.8% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 66.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 67.3% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 66.8% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 66.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 67.6% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 67.7% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 65.5% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 68.5% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 71.4% | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 70.8% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 70.2% | -0.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 70.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Australia's 70.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.8%, 1.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.4% | 68.7% | 72.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 69.1% | 70.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.4% | 66.6% | 68.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.3% | 65.5% | 71.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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 labor force participation rate by age in Australia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Australia was 70.2% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.5% in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Australia ranks 9th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).