The number of unemployed persons in Australia decreased to 671.30 Thousand in May of 2026 from 689.60 Thousand in April of 2026. Unemployed Persons in Australia averaged 635.99 Thousand from 1978 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 997.80 Thousand in July of 2020 and a record low of 364.70 Thousand in June of 1981. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Unemployed Persons in Australia is expected to be 695.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Unemployed Persons is projected to trend around 680.00 Thousand in 2027 and 650.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



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 Unemployed Persons
In Australia, unemployed persons are individuals who are without a job and actively seeking to work.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
671.30 689.60 997.80 364.70 1978 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
Volume, SA