LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia
Australia: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 9.96 in 2025. ▼ Falling
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia, 2001–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia is 9.96, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia peaked at 16.89 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 9.69, in 2022.
Australia ranks 35th of 90 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16.44 | — |
| 2002 | 16.27 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 16.83 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 14.81 | -12.0% |
| 2005 | 14.52 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 14.2 | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 13.78 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 12.88 | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 14.95 | +16.1% |
| 2010 | 13.16 | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 14.03 | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 14.82 | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 15.34 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 16.89 | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 16.51 | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 15.34 | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 14.99 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 13.63 | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 13.38 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 16.76 | +25.2% |
| 2021 | 13.06 | -22.1% |
| 2022 | 9.69 | -25.8% |
| 2023 | 9.89 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 10.28 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 9.96 | -3.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 9.96 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.92, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Australia's 9.96 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.19, 1.9× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.96 | 12.88 | 16.83 | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.81 | 13.16 | 16.89 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.61 | 9.69 | 16.76 | 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 lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia?
- Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Australia was 9.96 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.89 in 2014.
- What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.69 in 2022.
- How does Australia rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
- Australia ranks 35th out of 90 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.