The labor force participation rate in Australia rose to 66.9% in February 2026, compared to market expectations and January 66.7%. Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia averaged 63.70 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 66.90 percent in February from 66.70 percent in January of 2026.

Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia increased to 66.90 percent in February from 66.70 percent in January of 2026. Labor Force Participation Rate in Australia is expected to be 66.80 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 67.80 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-19 12:30 AM
Participation Rate
Jan 66.7% 68.5% 66.8% 66.8%
2026-03-19 12:30 AM
Participation Rate
Feb 66.9% 66.7% 66.7% 66.7%
2026-04-16 01:30 AM
Participation Rate
Mar 66.9% 66.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14748.70 14699.80 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Change 48933.00 26055.00 Persons Feb 2026
Employment Rate 64.00 64.00 percent Feb 2026
Full Time Employment Chg -30479.00 54567.00 Persons Feb 2026
Job Vacancies 326.70 327.20 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 66.90 66.70 percent Feb 2026
Labour Costs 107.90 107.40 points Dec 2025
Part Time Employment Chg 79413.00 -28513.00 Persons Feb 2026
Population 27.40 26.97 Million Dec 2024
Productivity 100.10 100.10 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 659.10 624.20 Thousand Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.10 percent Feb 2026
Wage Price Index YoY 3.40 3.30 percent Dec 2025
Wages 1562.40 1542.30 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 1770.30 1715.50 AUD/Week Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 10.20 9.60 percent Feb 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
66.90 66.70 67.20 60.10 1978 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA