Unemployment rate in Australia
Australia: Unemployment rate was 4.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Australia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Australia is 4.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Australia peaked at 10.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
Australia ranks 118th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.6% | — |
| 1992 | 10.7% | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 9.7% | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | -10.5% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 6.7% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -8.4% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 5.6% | +31.2% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | +24.3% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -21.5% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -25.8% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | +7.5% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | +3.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 81% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.0% | 6.9% | 10.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.2% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 3.7% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 115 Turkmenistan 4.3% compare
- 116 India 4.2% compare
- 117 United States 4.2% compare
- 119 Sri Lanka 4.0% compare
- 120 Netherlands 3.9% compare
- 121 Comoros 3.8% compare
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 in Australia?
- Unemployment rate in Australia was 4.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for unemployment rate?
- Australia ranks 118th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.