Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia
Australia: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 4.17 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia, 2001–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia is 4.17, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia peaked at 6.99 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.67, in 2023.
Australia ranks 59th of 78 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6.99 | — |
| 2002 | 6.29 | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 5.95 | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 5.48 | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 5.24 | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 4.87 | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 4.4 | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 4.64 | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 5.75 | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 5.2 | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 5.45 | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 5.64 | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 6.09 | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 6.5 | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 5.66 | -13.0% |
| 2016 | 5.52 | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 5.32 | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 5.34 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 5.14 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 6.39 | +24.3% |
| 2021 | 5.02 | -21.4% |
| 2022 | 3.73 | -25.8% |
| 2023 | 3.67 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 3.94 | +7.5% |
| 2025 | 4.17 | +5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.51 | 4.4 | 6.99 | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.59 | 5.14 | 6.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.49 | 3.67 | 6.39 | 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 rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia?
- Unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Australia was 4.17 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.99 in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.67 in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Australia ranks 59th out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. 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 rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). 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. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.