LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Australia

Australia: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) was 13.68 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
13.68
Change on year
down 24.3%
World rank
20th
of 56 countries
All-time high
18.07
in 2020
All-time low
13.68
in 2021
Years of data
8
2014–2021

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Australia, 2014–2021

051015202014201720212014: 17.72015: 17.32016: 16.32017: 15.62018: 15.92019: 15.12020: 18.12021: 13.7

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2021, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Australia stood at 13.68. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.3% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.

Australia ranks 20th of 56 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Australia, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+) in Australia, 2014 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2014 17.66
2015 17.33 -1.9%
2016 16.33 -5.8%
2017 15.64 -4.2%
2018 15.91 +1.7%
2019 15.09 -5.2%
2020 18.07 +19.8%
2021 13.68 -24.3%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 13.68 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.04, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 13.68 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.58, 1.8× the median. (7 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 16.33 15.09 17.66 6
2020s 15.88 13.68 18.07 2

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 17 Italy 14.9 compare
  2. 18 Belgium 14.87 compare
  3. 19 Brazil 14.23 compare
  4. 21 Denmark 13.67 compare
  5. 22 Greece 13.58 compare
  6. 23 Panama 13.54 compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Australia?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Australia was 13.68 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 18.07 in 2020.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 13.68 in 2021.
How does Australia rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo)?
Australia ranks 20th out of 56 countries with data for 2021.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. 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 LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-current-ilo-definition-icls19-15/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
56 places, 570 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. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.