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.

In June 2023, the unemployment rate in Australia was 3.5 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.

Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Males data was reported at 4.173 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.225 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Males data is updated monthly, averaging 5.822 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.004 % in Nov 1992 and a record low of 3.291 % in Oct 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Males 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.G040: Unemployment Rate. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In August 2020, consumer spending on gyms and fitness during the coronavirus pandemic in Australia had reached ** percent of the normal weekly spending on this activity. However, this was an improvement on previous months. The effects of lockdown measures and social distancing also saw decreased spending on transport, travel, and pubs and venues. On the other end of the spectrum, spending on food delivery increased remarkably alongside spending on home improvement and online gambling.

 Impact on business

With foot traffic in all capital central business districts greatly reduced, brick and mortar businesses were experiencing a corresponding reduction in physical sales. By July 2020, almost all trade, accommodation, and foodservice businesses were operating under modified conditions. Businesses outside of the service industry were only moderately affected by comparison. Despite support from the Australian government in the form of subsidies and payments to maintain staff, almost a quarter of businesses receiving support indicated that they may close their business once coronavirus support measures end.

A rising unemployment rate

Australia’s unemployment rate has traditionally been quite stable, remaining between **** and *** percent for over a decade. Yet in 2020 the unemployment rate was expected to reach over *** percent with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicating that this would continue to rise into 2021. This is unsurprising given the number of people who have lost employment or have been temporarily stood down as a result of business lost due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Unemployment Rate in Australia remained unchanged at 4.10 percent in May. This dataset provides - Australia Unemployment Rate at 5.8% in December - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Looking for Full Time Work: Males data was reported at 3.834 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.923 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Looking for Full Time Work: Males data is updated monthly, averaging 5.633 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.147 % in Nov 1992 and a record low of 2.926 % in Oct 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Looking for Full Time Work: Males 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.G040: Unemployment Rate. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

This datasets presents regional estimates of unemployment of Local Government Area (LGA) regions for each quarter starting December 2010 up to June 2020. The boundaries used for the dataset follow the 2019 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.

In Australia, underemployed part-time workers comprised more than ** percent of the total underemployed workforce pre-COVID-19. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the percentage decreased to less than ** percent. The rate has been growing back slowly, and in October 2020, the underemployed part-time workers made up ** percent of the total underemployed workforce.

Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work data was reported at 4.300 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.211 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work data is updated monthly, averaging 6.192 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.068 % in Feb 1993 and a record low of 3.070 % in Nov 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: Looking for Full Time Work 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.G040: Unemployment Rate. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In Australia, employment in most industries recorded a loss between ************* and ***********. Accommodation and Food Services recorded the largest fall in employment with a loss of about ******* jobs. The Public Administration and Safety industry, on the other hand, saw a rise in employment, with about ****** new jobs created in the time period.

Unemployment: sa: South Australia: Male data was reported at 24.317 Person th in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 23.171 Person th for Feb 2025. Unemployment: sa: South Australia: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 30.280 Person th from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54.072 Person th in Aug 1992 and a record low of 16.723 Person th in Feb 2024. Unemployment: sa: South Australia: Male 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.G038: Unemployment: by State and Sex. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

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.

Employment placement and recruitment firms are highly susceptible to shifts in Australia's unemployment rate, the total labour force's size and business confidence. Negative business confidence tends to reduce demand for the industry's recruitment services, reflecting a business environment wherein fewer client businesses are willing to employ additional staff. Hikes in the national unemployment rate can wreak havoc on industry growth, as clients typically advertise fewer jobs. After several years of strong performances, industry revenue growth was subdued in 2019-20 before plummeting in 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic's adverse economic effects. A surging national unemployment rate and subdued growth in the total labour force's size contributed to revenue falls for the year. Industry revenue rebounded strongly over the two years through 2022-23 as the pandemic's effects dissipated and businesses began to reopen. Intense competition has limited employment placement and recruitment firms' ability to raise client fees, but falls in the unemployment rate in recent years have supported profitability. Nonetheless, a rising unemployment rate and negative business confidence over the two years through 2024-25 have weighed on demand for employment services. Overall, industry revenue is expected to have expanded at an annualised 0.4% over the five years through 2024-25, to $20.8 billion. This trend includes an anticipated slump of 3.1% in 2024-25 as the national unemployment rate rises. Moving forwards, improvements in the labour market and positive business confidence will underpin industry growth. Employment placement and recruitment firms are set to offer a wider range of online employment placements and other employment services. However, greater external competition from online platforms, like LinkedIn and SEEK, will constrain industry revenue. To offset this trend, established recruitment firms will likely develop their own complementary and additional recruitment services and processes. Industry revenue is projected to climb at an annualised 2.3% over the five years through 2029-30, to $23.3 billion.

Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Females data was reported at 3.916 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.837 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Females data is updated monthly, averaging 6.442 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.871 % in Sep 1983 and a record low of 3.381 % in Apr 2023. Australia Unemployment Rate: sa: Females 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.G040: Unemployment Rate. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

This dataset presents data on the summary statistics of employment and population for metropolitan areas following the Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions as of December 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. All statistics are 12-month averages of original data, 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

On September 30, 2020, there were 17 new reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia. Australia's daily new confirmed coronavirus cases peaked on July 30 with 746 new cases on that day. This was considered to be the second wave of coronavirus infections in Australia, with the first wave peaking at the end of March at 460 cases before dropping to less than 20 cases per day throughout May and most of June.

 A second wave

Australia’s second wave of coronavirus found its epicenter in Melbourne, after over a month of recording low numbers of national daily cases. Despite being primarily focused within a single state, clusters of coronavirus cases in Victoria soon pushed the daily number of recorded cases over that of the first wave, with well over double the number of deaths. As a result, the Victorian Government once again increased lockdown measures to limit movement and social interaction. At the same time the other states and territories closed or restricted movement across borders, with some of the strictest border closures taking place in Western Australian.

 Is Australia entering into a recession?

After narrowly avoiding a recession during the global financial crisis, by September 2020 Australia had recorded two consecutive quarters of economic decline, hailing the country’s first recession since 1991. This did not necessarily come as a surprise for many Australians who had already witnessed a rising unemployment rate throughout the second quarter of 2020 alongside ongoing restrictions on retail and hospitality trading. However, thanks to welfare initiatives like JobKeeper and a government stimulus payment supplementing many household incomes, the economic situation could have been much worse at this point.

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 of December 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, 12 month average, December 2021. 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

This dataset presents data on the population of a region by labour force status for the Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions as of December 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. 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: Victoria data was reported at 4.590 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.995 % for Feb 2025. Australia Unemployment Rate: Victoria data is updated monthly, averaging 5.938 % from Feb 1978 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 566 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.171 % in Feb 1994 and a record low of 3.101 % in Jul 2022. Australia Unemployment Rate: Victoria 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.G040: Unemployment Rate. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The Personal Welfare Services industry provides community and welfare services to disadvantaged individuals, including children, the elderly and Australians with long-term disabilities. The industry’s services include those designed to assist the frail and disabled in community settings, thereby circumventing the need for institutional care. As such it plays a key role in the wider care and support economy, one of Australia's fastest growing sectors and a key focus area of the current Labor Government. High and increasing government funding, including funding associated with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), has benefited community and welfare service providers in Australia over the past decade. However, according to the Australian Council of Social Service, many of the social service organisations that deliver youth outreach services, disability support, and community legal services are now at a breaking point. This is because of unprecedented demand for their services following a series of external shocks in recent years – including bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis – with current funding levels proving inadequate to meet this additional demand. Inflationary cost pressures are adding to profit margin pressures and threatening the viability of several social assistance organisations. Industry revenue is expected to expand at an annualised 9.9% over the five years through 2024-25 to $43.2 billion. This rate includes anticipated growth of 6.8% in 2024-25 as a forecast rise in the unemployment rate, combined with high interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis, continues to take its toll, especially on disadvantaged Australians. However, funding shortfalls will constrain the industry’s ability to respond. Australia's ageing population will bolster demand for social assistance services in the coming years, particularly for in-home aged-care services. Simultaneously, new regulations governing the provision of aged care services and disability support services will influence the industry’s operating landscape. Changes to the industry's operating backdrop in view of the Government's care and support economy reform agenda will also shape the industry going forwards. Overall, industry revenue is forecast to climb by an annualised 5.8% over the five years through 2029-30, to $57.3 billion.