Australia Unemployment Rate stands at 4.72% as of September 2026, up from 4.43% a year earlier. The reading sits in the 16th percentile of its history back to 1978.
| Latest (September 2026) | 4.72% |
| One year ago | 4.43% |
| 10-year range | 3.43% – 7.45% |
| All-time range | 3.43% (2022) – 11.22% (1992) |
| Standing | Highest since 2021 |
| Change over 12 months | +0.3 pts — bottomed at 4.08% in 2026 |
| Percentile vs. full history | 16th |
| History | 1978–2026 (584 observations) |
The share of Australia's labor force that is out of work and looking for a job. Unemployment is a lagging indicator on the way down but a powerful early signal on the way up: sustained increases from a cycle low have historically been among the most reliable markers of a downturn taking hold. Because labor data is published promptly and revised little, it anchors the growth pillar of most macro frameworks. Data: harmonized unemployment statistics via the OECD.
<iframe src="https://www.tacticalassetallocation.com/charts/australia-unemployment-rate/embed.html" width="800" height="360" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius:8px"></iframe>
<a href="https://www.tacticalassetallocation.com/charts/australia-unemployment-rate/">Australia Unemployment Rate — Cambria Chart Lab</a>
Data: download CSV (source: OECD key economic indicators).