Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 66.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia stood at 66.5%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia peaked at 67.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 62.6%, in 1993.
Australia ranks 50th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.9% | — |
| 1991 | 63.3% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 63.0% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 62.6% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 63.1% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 63.7% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 63.6% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 63.3% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 63.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 62.9% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 63.3% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 63.4% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 63.5% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 63.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 63.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 64.5% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 64.8% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 65.3% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 65.6% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 65.5% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 65.5% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 65.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 65.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 64.8% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 65.1% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 65.0% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 65.2% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 65.8% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 66.1% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 65.0% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 66.1% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 66.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 67.0% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 66.7% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 66.5% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.2% | 62.6% | 63.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.3% | 63.3% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.3% | 64.8% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.4% | 65.0% | 67.0% | 6 |
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Australia was 66.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 67.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.6% in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Australia ranks 50th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.