Unemployment Rate: Australia
Australia's unemployment rate is currently 4.3% as of 2026. # Australia Unemployment Rate Australia's unemployment rate stands at 4.
Current (2026)
4.3%
+2.4% y/y
Peak (1993)
10.9%
Low (2022)
3.7%
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook
1980–2026 · 51 pts
Unemployment Rate — Australia
1980 — 2026
Unemployment Rate — Australia
Analysis# Australia Unemployment Rate
Australia's unemployment rate stands at 4.3% in 2026, reflecting a moderately tight labor market. Since 1980, the rate has declined 29.5 percentage points from its starting level, demonstrating substantial long-term improvement. The metric peaked at 10.9% in 1993 during an economic downturn, while the lowest recorded level of 3.7% occurred in 2022 at the tail end of post-pandemic recovery.
The most significant turning point emerged in 2020, when the rate spiked to 6.5% amid COVID-19 disruptions, before recovering sharply to 3.7% by 2021-2022. From that historic low, unemployment has gradually edged upward, reaching 4.3% by 2026. The recent upward trajectory suggests a normalizing labor market settling into the 4-4.3% range, consistent with structural employment equilibrium.
Historical Data
51 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 4.3% | +0.00% |
| 2029 | 4.3% | +0.00% |
| 2028 | 4.3% | +0.00% |
| 2027 | 4.3% | +0.00% |
| 2026 | 4.3% | +2.38% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +5.00% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | +8.11% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +0.00% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -27.45% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -21.54% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +25.00% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -1.89% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -5.36% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -1.75% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -6.56% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | +0.00% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | +7.02% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | +9.62% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +1.96% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -1.92% |
Show all 51 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.2% | -7.14% |
| 2009 | 5.6% | +30.23% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -2.27% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -8.33% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -4.00% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -7.41% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -8.47% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -7.81% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | -5.88% |
| 2001 | 6.8% | +7.94% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -8.70% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | -10.39% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -8.33% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -1.18% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +0.00% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -12.37% |
| 1994 | 9.7% | -11.01% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +1.87% |
| 1992 | 10.7% | +11.46% |
| 1991 | 9.6% | +39.13% |
| 1990 | 6.9% | +13.11% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -15.28% |
| 1988 | 7.2% | -11.11% |
| 1987 | 8.1% | +0.00% |
| 1986 | 8.1% | -2.41% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | -7.78% |
| 1984 | 9.0% | -10.00% |
| 1983 | 10.0% | +38.89% |
| 1982 | 7.2% | +24.14% |
| 1981 | 5.8% | -4.92% |
| 1980 | 6.1% | — |
Related Data
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Demographics
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