Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Australia

Australia: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment was 660,539 Persons in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
660,539 Persons
Change on year
up 10.0%
World rank
16th
of 46 countries
All-time high
867,116 Persons
in 2020
All-time low
474,464 Persons
in 2008
Years of data
31
1995–2025

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Australia, 1995–2025

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1995201020251995: 757.7k Persons1996: 771.6k Persons1997: 763.5k Persons1998: 708.1k Persons1999: 640.0k Persons2000: 596.8k Persons2001: 651.8k Persons2002: 625.0k Persons2003: 592.2k Persons2004: 545.1k Persons2005: 523.6k Persons2006: 508.5k Persons2007: 477.6k Persons2008: 474.5k Persons2009: 636.2k Persons2010: 606.0k Persons2011: 600.3k Persons2012: 625.6k Persons2013: 687.6k Persons2014: 746.6k Persons2015: 758.3k Persons2016: 725.1k Persons2017: 725.4k Persons2018: 702.7k Persons2019: 698.6k Persons2020: 867.1k Persons2021: 703.6k Persons2022: 524.4k Persons2023: 536.8k Persons2024: 600.4k Persons2025: 660.5k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

In 2025, labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Australia stood at 660,539 Persons.

That represents a change of up 10.0% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Australia peaked at 867,116 Persons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 474,464 Persons, in 2008.

That places Australia 16th out of 46 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 728,169 Persons 639,994 Persons 771,551 Persons 5
2000s 563,116 Persons 474,464 Persons 651,765 Persons 10
2010s 687,622 Persons 600,285 Persons 758,261 Persons 10
2020s 648,812 Persons 524,354 Persons 867,116 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 13 United Kingdom 1.33 million Persons compare
  2. 14 Canada 1.15 million Persons compare
  3. 15 Chile 941,088 Persons compare
  4. 17 Peru 569,925 Persons compare
  5. 18 Poland 557,900 Persons compare
  6. 19 Sweden 510,400 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Australia?
Labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Australia was 660,539 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 867,116 Persons in 2020.
What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 474,464 Persons in 2008.
How does Australia rank for labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment?
Australia ranks 16th out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
Is labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-levels-regions-unemployment/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,325 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

<p>This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3).</p> <p><strong>Data definition and source</strong></p> <p>The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites.</p> <p><strong>Definition of regions</strong></p> <p>Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD_territorial-grid_TL2024.pdf">(pdf)</a> and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD%20Territorial%20correspondence%20-%20TL2024c.xlsx">(xlsx)</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cite this dataset</strong></p> <p>OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database&nbsp;<a href="http://oe.cd/geostats">http://oe.cd/geostats</a>.</p> <p><strong>Further information</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://regions-cities-atlas.oecd.org/">OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas</a>&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-regions-and-cities-at-a-glance-2024_f42db3bf-en.html">OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance</a></li> </ul> <p>For questions and/or comments, please email <a href="mailto:RegionStat@oecd.org">RegionStat@oecd.org</a>.</p>