Labour force: ICLS13) (15+) … previous ICLS13 15+ in Australia
Australia: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 66.94 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia, 1961–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia stood at 66.94.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia peaked at 67.17 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 57.43, in 1961.
That places Australia 62nd out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 57.43 | — |
| 1966 | 59.53 | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 58.67 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 61.42 | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 60.76 | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 61.3 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 61.14 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 60.78 | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 60.44 | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 60.55 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 60.81 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 61.89 | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 61.96 | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 62.38 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 63.16 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 63.75 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 63.14 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 62.86 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 62.45 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 62.93 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 63.54 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 63.52 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 63.12 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 63 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 62.76 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 63.14 | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 63.3 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 63.36 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 63.59 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 63.46 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 64.4 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 64.76 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 65.18 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 65.48 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 65.43 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 65.39 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 65.42 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 65.15 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 64.94 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 64.7 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 65 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 64.83 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 65.03 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 65.75 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 66.05 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 64.98 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 66.06 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 66.85 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 67.17 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 67.06 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 66.94 | -0.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 66.94 is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.11, 1.1× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Australia's 66.94 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.2, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 58.48 | 57.43 | 59.53 | 2 |
| 1970s | 60.28 | 58.67 | 61.42 | 3 |
| 1980s | 61.44 | 60.44 | 63.16 | 10 |
| 1990s | 63.11 | 62.45 | 63.75 | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.21 | 63.14 | 65.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.23 | 64.7 | 66.05 | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.51 | 64.98 | 67.17 | 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 labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia was 66.94 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 67.17 in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.43 in 1961.
- How does Australia rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Australia ranks 62nd out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.