Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 70.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
70.8%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
97th
of 196 countries
All-time high
85.7%
in 1961
All-time low
70.0%
in 2020
Years of data
51
1961–2025
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia stood at 70.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia peaked at 85.7% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 70.0%, in 2020.
Australia ranks 97th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 85.7% | — |
| 1966 | 83.9% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 80.3% | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 79.3% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 78.4% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 78.0% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 77.4% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 76.7% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 76.3% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 75.8% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 75.9% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 75.3% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 75.2% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 75.4% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 75.6% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 74.6% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 74.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 73.5% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 73.6% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 73.8% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 73.6% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 73.0% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 72.7% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 72.2% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 72.1% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 71.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 71.8% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 71.5% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 71.5% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 72.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 72.2% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 72.5% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 72.6% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 72.3% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 72.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 72.2% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 71.7% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 71.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 70.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 71.1% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 70.5% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 70.4% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 71.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 70.0% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 70.8% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 71.7% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 71.2% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 70.8% | -0.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 70.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Australia's 70.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 71.0%, 100% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 84.8% | 83.9% | 85.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 79.4% | 78.4% | 80.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 76.4% | 75.2% | 78.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.7% | 72.2% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.1% | 71.5% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.3% | 70.4% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.0% | 70.0% | 71.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 94 Kyrgyzstan 71.2% compare
- 95 Philippines 71.0% compare
- 96 Egypt 71.0% compare
- 98 Lao People's Democratic Republic 70.8% compare
- 99 Montenegro 70.6% compare
- 100 San Marino 70.6% 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Australia was 70.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.0% in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Australia ranks 97th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.