LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia

Australia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 5.52 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
5.52
Change on year
down 28.3%
World rank
51st
of 63 countries
All-time high
7.71
in 2020
All-time low
5.52
in 2021
Years of data
8
2014–2021

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia, 2014–2021

024682014201720212014: 7.42015: 6.62016: 6.62017: 62018: 5.92019: 6.12020: 7.72021: 5.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia is 5.52, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 28.3% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.

That places Australia 51st out of 63 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+) in Australia, 2014 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2014 7.37
2015 6.58 -10.7%
2016 6.62 +0.6%
2017 6.04 -8.8%
2018 5.92 -2.1%
2019 6.11 +3.2%
2020 7.71 +26.1%
2021 5.52 -28.3%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 5.52 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.94, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 5.52 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.52, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 6.44 5.92 7.37 6
2020s 6.61 5.52 7.71 2

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 48 Czechia 5.81 compare
  2. 49 Hungary 5.77 compare
  3. 50 Cyprus 5.65 compare
  4. 52 Slovenia 5.25 compare
  5. 53 United States 5.24 compare
  6. 54 Bulgaria 5.22 compare

See the full ranking of 63 places →

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia was 5.52 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 7.71 in 2020.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 5.52 in 2021.
How does Australia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
Australia ranks 51st out of 63 countries with data for 2021.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. 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 LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-current-ilo-definition/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
63 places, 634 data points, 2014–2025
Last refreshed

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 includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.