Monthly unemployment levels in Australia
Australia: Monthly unemployment levels was 639.31 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment levels in Australia, 1964–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, monthly unemployment levels in Australia stood at 639.31 Persons.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.6% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment levels in Australia peaked at 933.75 Persons in 1993 and was at its lowest, 60.7 Persons, in 1965.
That places Australia 13th out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 61 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment levels in Australia, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 63.3 Persons | — |
| 1965 | 60.7 Persons | -4.1% |
| 1966 | 76.47 Persons | +26.0% |
| 1967 | 94.53 Persons | +23.6% |
| 1968 | 93.83 Persons | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 96.12 Persons | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 90.58 Persons | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 107.28 Persons | +18.4% |
| 1972 | 150.12 Persons | +39.9% |
| 1973 | 136.25 Persons | -9.2% |
| 1974 | 161.62 Persons | +18.6% |
| 1975 | 302.45 Persons | +87.1% |
| 1976 | 298.05 Persons | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 358.05 Persons | +20.1% |
| 1979 | 408.41 Persons | +14.1% |
| 1980 | 408.61 Persons | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 393.88 Persons | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 494.93 Persons | +25.7% |
| 1983 | 697.04 Persons | +40.8% |
| 1984 | 641.22 Persons | -8.0% |
| 1985 | 602.87 Persons | -6.0% |
| 1986 | 613.12 Persons | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 628.86 Persons | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 576.22 Persons | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 508.07 Persons | -11.8% |
| 1990 | 584.8 Persons | +15.1% |
| 1991 | 812.62 Persons | +39.0% |
| 1992 | 917.52 Persons | +12.9% |
| 1993 | 933.75 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 850.35 Persons | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 757.7 Persons | -10.9% |
| 1996 | 771.55 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 763.48 Persons | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 708.12 Persons | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 639.99 Persons | -9.6% |
| 2000 | 596.75 Persons | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 651.76 Persons | +9.2% |
| 2002 | 625 Persons | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 592.2 Persons | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 545.05 Persons | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 523.59 Persons | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 508.49 Persons | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 477.61 Persons | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 474.46 Persons | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 636.24 Persons | +34.1% |
| 2010 | 605.99 Persons | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 600.28 Persons | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 625.6 Persons | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 687.61 Persons | +9.9% |
| 2014 | 746.64 Persons | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 758.26 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 725.14 Persons | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 725.38 Persons | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 702.7 Persons | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 698.62 Persons | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 867.12 Persons | +24.1% |
| 2021 | 703.68 Persons | -18.8% |
| 2022 | 524.55 Persons | -25.5% |
| 2023 | 536.92 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 600 Persons | +11.8% |
| 2025 | 639.31 Persons | +6.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 639.31 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 336.92 Persons, 1.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Monthly unemployment levels in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +87.1% | 161.62 Persons | 302.45 Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 80.83 Persons | 60.7 Persons | 96.12 Persons | 6 |
| 1970s | 223.65 Persons | 90.58 Persons | 408.41 Persons | 9 |
| 1980s | 556.48 Persons | 393.88 Persons | 697.04 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 773.99 Persons | 584.8 Persons | 933.75 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 563.12 Persons | 474.46 Persons | 651.76 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 687.62 Persons | 600.28 Persons | 758.26 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 645.26 Persons | 524.55 Persons | 867.12 Persons | 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 monthly unemployment levels in Australia?
- Monthly unemployment levels in Australia was 639.31 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 933.75 Persons in 1993.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.7 Persons in 1965.
- How does Australia rank for monthly unemployment levels?
- Australia ranks 13th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment levels rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.