Unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia

Australia: Unemployment of previously employed persons was 693.15 in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
693.15
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
21st
of 106 countries
All-time high
931.2
in 1993
All-time low
459.1
in 2007
Years of data
29
1989–2017

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia, 1989–2017

02004006008001.0k1989200320171989: 517.11990: 548.91991: 810.41992: 917.71993: 931.21994: 848.11995: 752.11996: 756.21997: 789.61998: 735.61999: 685.52000: 641.62001: 666.22002: 622.42003: 6152004: 557.52005: 538.62006: 516.52007: 459.12008: 472.62009: 663.82010: 613.62011: 600.52012: 620.22013: 681.32014: 696.22015: 714.32016: 691.22017: 693.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia is 693.15, measured in 2017.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 51.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia peaked at 931.2 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 459.1, in 2007.

Australia ranks 21st of 106 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia, 1989 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1989 517.1
1990 548.9 +6.1%
1991 810.4 +47.6%
1992 917.7 +13.2%
1993 931.2 +1.5%
1994 848.1 -8.9%
1995 752.1 -11.3%
1996 756.2 +0.5%
1997 789.6 +4.4%
1998 735.6 -6.8%
1999 685.5 -6.8%
2000 641.6 -6.4%
2001 666.2 +3.8%
2002 622.4 -6.6%
2003 615 -1.2%
2004 557.5 -9.3%
2005 538.6 -3.4%
2006 516.5 -4.1%
2007 459.1 -11.1%
2008 472.6 +2.9%
2009 663.8 +40.5%
2010 613.6 -7.6%
2011 600.5 -2.1%
2012 620.2 +3.3%
2013 681.3 +9.9%
2014 696.2 +2.2%
2015 714.29 +2.6%
2016 691.21 -3.2%
2017 693.15 +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 517.1 517.1 517.1 1
1990s 777.53 548.9 931.2 10
2000s 575.33 459.1 666.2 10
2010s 663.81 600.5 714.29 8

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 18 Mexico 996.13 compare
  2. 19 Egypt 873.7 compare
  3. 20 Serbia 767.02 compare
  4. 22 Angola 655.15 compare
  5. 23 Chile 640.4 compare
  6. 24 Malaysia 630.4 compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia?
Unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia was 693.15 in 2017, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 931.2 in 1993.
What is the lowest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 459.1 in 2007.
How does Australia rank for unemployment of previously employed persons?
Australia ranks 21st out of 106 countries with data for 2017.
Is unemployment of previously employed persons rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.0%. 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 Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment of previously employed persons in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-of-previously-employed-persons-previous-ilo-definition-icls13/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
106 places, 2,348 data points, 1976–2025
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 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. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.