Labor force participation rate by age in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate by age was 70.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
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%.
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
- 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 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.
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 aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).