In June 2025, the unemployment rate in Australia was 4.3 percent, lower than the pre-COVID-19 unemployment rate of around five percent. During 2020, the unemployment rate in Australia spiked to 7.6 percent amidst the country's second coronavirus wave. Unemployment and underemployment rates around the country In the middle of 2023, unemployment around the country hovered between 2.9 and 4.2 percent, with South Australia leading with the highest rate of people eligible to work jobs not currently employed. New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, reported the lowest rate of unemployment at the time. Underemployment, however, was highest in Tasmania, with the country reporting a national underemployment rate of over six percent in June 2023. Some of the leading difficulties people in Australia reported as barriers to finding a job or more hours included too many other applicants for available jobs, and a lack of necessary training, qualifications, or experience. Leading industries for employment in Australia Australia’s employment landscape is made up of a wide range of jobs; however, it is dominated by the services sector, which covers a range of industries, including healthcare, education, tourism, and professional services. Healthcare and social assistance remain the country’s leading employment industry, accounting for approximately 15 percent of employed persons. Employment industries varied between males and females , with the construction industry the most popular employment industry for males in 2022, while close to one-quarter of employed females worked in the healthcare and social assistance field.

Unemployment Rate in Australia remained unchanged at 4.20 percent in August. This dataset provides - Australia Unemployment Rate at 5.8% in December - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Australia was about 4.03 percent. Between 1980 and 2024, the figure dropped by approximately 2.10 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. From 2024 to 2030, the rate will rise by around 0.42 percentage points, showing an overall upward trend with periodic ups and downs.This indicator describes the unemployment rate, which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labor force.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 20-24 Years data was reported at 7.916 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.286 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 20-24 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 9.954 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.152 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 3.754 % in Dec 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 20-24 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G042: Unemployment Rate: by Age, Sex and Status: Looking for Full Time Work.

This dataset presents data on the numbers and status of employment by industries for metropolitan areas following the Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions as of November 2020. The boundaries for this dataset follow the 2016 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

The Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment publishes a range of labour market data on its Labour Market Information Portal. The data provided includes unemployment rate, employment rate, participation rate, youth unemployment rate, unemployment duration, population by age group and employment by industry and occupation.

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Data Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, four-quarter average, except for Australian Total Employment and Australian Employment Distribution, which are seasonally adjusted data.

The unemployment rate increased by *** percent between March 2020 and May 2020 in Australia. The underemployment rate increased by *** percent in the same period, whereas the participation rate decreased by *** percent. From May 2020 to October 2020, the unemployment rate decreased by *** percent, the underemployment rate decreased by *** percent and the participation rate increased by *** percent.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate: Aged 15-64: Females for Australia (LRUN64FEAUA156S) from 1979 to 2020 about 15 to 64 years, females, Australia, unemployment, and rate.

In 2022, around *** percent of the youth population aged 15 to 24 years in Australia were unemployed. This marked a noticeable decrease from the previous year's unemployment rate in the country. The highest youth unemployment rate during the measured period was recorded in 2020, at **** percent.

This datasets presents regional estimates of the labour force of Local Government Area (LGA) regions for each quarter starting December 2010 up to September 2021. The boundaries used for the dataset follow the 2021 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Small Area Labour Markets (SALM) presents regional estimates of unemployment and the unemployment rate at two small area levels:

• Approximately 2,200 ABS SA2s, on a State/Territory and Metropolitan/Non-metropolitan basis. Estimates for the Capital City and the Rest of State are provided for the States and the Northern Territory.

• For approximately 540 Australian LGAs.

The SALM Estimates have been smoothed using a four-quarter average to minimise the variability inherent in small area estimates. A description of the methodology used to prepare the estimates in this publication is available on the Explanatory Notes page.

Caution: Highly disaggregated estimates of unemployment and the unemployment rate at the SA2 and LGA level can display significant variability and should be viewed with caution, particularly in regions where the SA4 level unemployment data are showing considerable volatility. As a result, quarter-to-quarter comparisons may not indicate actual movements in the labour market so we recommend using year-on-year comparisons. Even then, large movements in the SA2 and LGA data should be viewed with caution.

The COVID-19 pandemic began to have a significant impact on the Australian labour market from March 2020, when Australia recorded its 100th COVID-19 case and the initial shutdown of non-essential services and trading restrictions took effect. Learn more about the dataset at the LMIP (Labour Market Information Portal).

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Smoothed Estimates are not available for all SA2s and LGAs, for more information see the SALM 2016 ASGS Changeover User Guide.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 20-24 Years data was reported at 7.662 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.520 % for Jan 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 20-24 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 10.952 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 565 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.066 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 3.277 % in Dec 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 20-24 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G042: Unemployment Rate: by Age, Sex and Status: Looking for Full Time Work.

This dataset presents data on the numbers and status of employment by industries for the Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions as a time series for November 2016, 2020 and 2021. The boundaries for this dataset follow the 2016 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

The Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment publishes a range of labour market data on its Labour Market Information Portal. The data provided includes unemployment rate, employment rate, participation rate, youth unemployment rate, unemployment duration, population by age group and employment by industry and occupation.

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Data Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, four quarter average, except for Australia which is seasonally adjusted data. The region named "Western Australia - Outback (North and South)" in the original data has been omitted as it did not match a region within the SA4 2016 ASGS.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 30-34 Years data was reported at 3.910 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.263 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 30-34 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 8.014 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.321 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 1.566 % in Apr 2023. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 30-34 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G042: Unemployment Rate: by Age, Sex and Status: Looking for Full Time Work.

The number of employed people in Australia amounted to 14.37 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the number rose by 8.08 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. From 2024 to 2026, the number will increase by 470,000 people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

Figures show a forecast of growth in health, education, and professional services in Australia from the first quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2025. The forecast shows the health care and social assistance industry will create 20,5900 new employment and the education and training industry 85,100 new employment by the first quarter of 2025. However, the figures show a projection for agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and mining industries to decline in employment in the same period. The figures forecast a loss of 91,700 employment for these industries.

This dataset presents data on the labour force categorised by age and sex, available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Force statistics. This dataset is based on Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) from the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), and covers data for individual months between October 1998 and June 2020. Labour Force statistics are compiled from the Labour Force Survey which is conducted each month throughout Australia as part of the ABS household survey program. The Labour Force Survey provides monthly information about the labour market activity of Australia's resident civilian population aged 15 years and over. The Labour Force Survey is designed to primarily provide estimates of employment and unemployment for the whole of Australia and, secondarily, for each state and territory. This data is ABS data (catalogue number: 6291.0.55.001) used with permission from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. For more information please visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Notes: AURIN has restructured and spatially enabled the original data using the 2011 SA4 Boundaries.

This dataset presents data on unemployed persons by duration of job search, available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Force statistics. This dataset is based on Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) from the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) boundaries, and covers data for individual months between October 1998 and June 2020.

Labour Force statistics are compiled from the Labour Force Survey which is conducted each month throughout Australia as part of the ABS household survey program. The Labour Force Survey provides monthly information about the labour market activity of Australia's resident civilian population aged 15 years and over. The Labour Force Survey is designed to primarily provide estimates of employment and unemployment for the whole of Australia and, secondarily, for each state and territory.

This data is ABS data (catalogue number: 6291.0.55.001) used with permission from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

For more information please visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Please Note:

• AURIN has restructured the original data.

• The original dataset includes data between July 1991 and October 1998, however these records are not aggregated by SA4, and therefore have been omitted from this dataset.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 15-19 Years data was reported at 26.785 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 30.496 % for Jan 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 15-19 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 25.622 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 565 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.840 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 13.280 % in Nov 1989. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Not Married: Female: 15-19 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G042: Unemployment Rate: by Age, Sex and Status: Looking for Full Time Work.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 15-19 Years data was reported at 21.081 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26.794 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 15-19 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 25.513 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.999 % in May 2020 and a record low of 14.390 % in Jul 2023. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work: Female: 15-19 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G042: Unemployment Rate: by Age, Sex and Status: Looking for Full Time Work.

This datasets presents regional estimates of the labour force of Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) regions for each quarter starting December 2010 up to June 2020. The boundaries used for the dataset follow the 2016 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Small Area Labour Markets (SALM) presents regional estimates of unemployment and the unemployment rate at two small area levels:

• Approximately 2,200 ABS SA2s, on a State/Territory and Metropolitan/Non-metropolitan basis. Estimates for the Capital City and the Rest of State are provided for the States and the Northern Territory.

• For approximately 540 Australian LGAs.

The SALM Estimates have been smoothed using a four-quarter average to minimise the variability inherent in small area estimates. A description of the methodology used to prepare the estimates in this publication is available on the Explanatory Notes page.

Caution: Highly disaggregated estimates of unemployment and the unemployment rate at the SA2 and LGA level can display significant variability and should be viewed with caution, particularly in regions where the SA4 level unemployment data are showing considerable volatility. As a result, quarter-to-quarter comparisons may not indicate actual movements in the labour market so we recommend using year-on-year comparisons. Even then, large movements in the SA2 and LGA data should be viewed with caution.

The COVID-19 pandemic began to have a significant impact on the Australian labour market from March 2020, when Australia recorded its 100th COVID-19 case and the initial shutdown of non-essential services and trading restrictions took effect. Learn more about the dataset at the LMIP.

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Smoothed Estimates are not available for all SA2s and LGAs, for more information see the SALM 2016 ASGS Changeover User Guide.

This dataset presents data on the population of a region by age group for metropolitan areas following the Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions as as a time series for December 2015, 2019 and 2020. The boundaries for this dataset follow the 2016 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

The Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment publishes a range of labour market data on its Labour Market Information Portal. The data provided includes unemployment rate, employment rate, participation rate, youth unemployment rate, unemployment duration, population by age group and employment by industry and occupation.

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Data Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, 12 month average, December 2020. The ABS advises that analysis of regional labour force estimates should typically be based on annual averages, which are important for understanding the state of the labour market and providing medium and long-term signals. The application of annual averages, however, is unlikely to accurately or quickly detect turning points in the regional data during periods of significant change (such as during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic). Original data at the ABS Statistical Area 4 (SA4) level can be found in Table 16