Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia
Australia: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia, 1979–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia stood at 4.0%.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia peaked at 10.4% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2023.
Australia ranks 133rd of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 47 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 8.2% | — |
| 1980 | 7.9% | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 7.4% | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 8.5% | +14.7% |
| 1983 | 10.4% | +21.6% |
| 1984 | 9.5% | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | -7.5% |
| 1986 | 8.7% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 8.6% | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 7.9% | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 6.8% | -13.4% |
| 1990 | 7.2% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 9.2% | +27.2% |
| 1992 | 9.9% | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -6.4% |
| 1995 | 8.1% | -13.4% |
| 1996 | 8.2% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 7.3% | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | -9.0% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | +10.0% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 5.7% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | +24.4% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | -23.3% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -24.5% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +7.2% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | +5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1980s | 8.4% | 6.8% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.4% | 6.7% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.6% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.6% | 6.3% | 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Australia was 4.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 1983.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Australia ranks 133rd out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.