The labor force participation rate in Australia edged up to 66.7% in May from a downwardly revised 66.6% in April, which was the lowest level in five months, matching market estimates. Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia averaged 63.72 percent from 1978 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.20 percent in January of 2025 and a record low of 60.10 percent in April of 1983. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia increased to 66.70 percent in May from 66.60 percent in April of 2026.

Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia increased to 66.70 percent in May from 66.60 percent in April of 2026. Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia is expected to be 66.70 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Labor Force Participation Rate is projected to trend around 66.50 percent in 2027 and 67.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-21 01:30 AM
Participation Rate
Apr 66.7% 66.8% 66.8% 66.8%
2026-06-25 01:30 AM
Participation Rate
May 66.7% 66.6% 66.7% 66.7%
2026-07-23 01:30 AM
Participation Rate
Jun 66.7% 66.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14738.80 14698.50 Thousand May 2026
Employment Change 40343.00 -40651.00 Persons May 2026
Employment Rate 63.80 63.70 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment Chg 5160.00 -21646.00 Persons May 2026
Job Vacancies 329.50 337.90 Thousand Jun 2026
Participation Rate 66.70 66.60 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 108.70 107.80 points Mar 2026
Part Time Employment Chg 35183.00 -19006.00 Persons May 2026
Population 27.70 27.40 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 99.60 100.20 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 671.30 689.60 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.50 percent May 2026
Wage Price Index YoY 3.30 3.40 percent Mar 2026
Wages 1562.40 1542.30 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 1770.30 1715.50 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 10.40 11.00 percent May 2026


Australia Labor Force Participation Rate
The labour force participation rates is the number of persons who are employed and unemployed but looking for a job divided by the total working-age population.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
66.70 66.60 67.20 60.10 1978 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA