Australia Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Australia's unemployment rate was 4.09% in 2025, ranked 68th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Australia's unemployment rate stood at 4.09% in 2025, a rise of +0.07pp from 2024. The IMF projects 4.24% by 2025. Australia ranked 68th globally.
Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen from a post‑peak of 10.88 % in 1993 to a historic low of 3.67 % in 2023, before edging up slightly to 4.09 % in 2025, placing the country 68th in the world. The decline reflects structural reforms, a resilient services sector and strong labour‑market participation over the past three decades, while the modest recent increase corresponds with tighter monetary policy and global supply‑chain disruptions. Compared with peers, Australia’s rate is marginally above the Netherlands (3.87 %) and close to Sri Lanka’s 4.00 % and the United States’ 4.20 % in the same year, underscoring a competitive position among advanced economies. The 46‑year series suggests that future movements will hinge on the balance between domestic wage growth, immigration policy and the pace of technological adoption, with sustained demand likely to keep the unemployment rate near the current low‑to‑mid‑single‑digit range.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 4.29% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 4.30% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.32% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 4.31% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 4.32% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 4.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.09% | +0.07pp | #68 |
| 2024 | 3.94% | +0.24pp | #69 |
| 2023 | 3.67% | −0.04pp | #68 |
| 2022 | 3.73% | −1.39pp | #59 |
| 2021 | 5.02% | −1.45pp | #72 |
| 2020 | 6.39% | +1.22pp | #97 |
| 2019 | 5.14% | −0.14pp | #94 |
| 2018 | 5.35% | −0.26pp | #95 |
| 2017 | 5.59% | −0.13pp | #95 |
| 2016 | 5.71% | −0.36pp | #90 |
| 2015 | 6.06% | −0.00pp | #92 |
| 2014 | 6.08% | +0.42pp | #91 |
| 2013 | 5.66% | +0.43pp | #86 |
| 2012 | 5.23% | +0.14pp | #79 |
| 2011 | 5.08% | −0.13pp | #75 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Australia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The announced job cuts at National Australia Bank directly indicate an upward pressure on Australia's unemployment rate from its current 4.09%. Concurrently, RBA Deputy Governor Hauser's warnings of a "materially worse" inflation outlook and hotter-than-expected Q3 trimmed mean CPI increase the likelihood of further interest rate hikes. Such hikes are typically implemented to cool economic activity, which can lead to slower job creation or job reductions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Australia's unemployment rate was 4.09% in 2025. Ranked 68th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from the previous year.
Australia's unemployment rate peaked at 10.88% in 1993.
The lowest unemployment rate in Australia was 3.67% in 2023.
Australia ranks 68th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Australia's unemployment rate is projected to reach 4.24% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Australia in 2025 was 4.09%. This ranks 68th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_australia_unemployment-rate,
title = {Australia Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/australia/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}