Photo: tiimta · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Australia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Australia is placed joint 4th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 63.82 (2025); Labour Income Share 58.32 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint4th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Australia on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
63.82
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Australia: 63.82. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 66.78 New Zealand
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
4.09
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Australia: 4.09. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 4.09 Australia
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
9.125
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Australia: 9.125. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 9.125 Australia
02Over time
Which way Australia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia rose from 59.3 in 2000 to 63.82 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 63.82 57.720 2024 64.09 57.694 2023 64.57 58.158 2022 64.40 57.688 2021 62.83 56.066 2020 60.87 55.691 2019 62.69 57.871 2018 62.29 56.911 2017 61.60 56.738 2016 61.24 56.845 2015 61.14 56.788 2014 60.85 56.774 2013 61.34 56.229 2012 61.84 56.289 2011 62.18 56.297 2010 62.07 56.212 2009 61.86 56.255 2008 62.78 57.308 2007 62.42 56.933 2006 61.75 56.685 2005 61.26 56.129 2004 60.14 55.465 2003 59.94 55.630 2002 59.46 55.843 2001 59.16 56.018 2000 59.30 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia fell from 62.18 in 2004 to 58.32 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 58.322 46.230 2024 58.802 46.060 2023 57.510 45.900 2022 55.791 45.615 2021 56.124 45.433 2020 58.090 47.267 2019 59.244 46.277 2018 57.100 46.187 2017 58.059 46.467 2016 58.111 46.798 2015 59.547 46.876 2014 59.371 47.281 2013 58.275 46.887 2012 58.513 46.231 2011 59.358 45.679 2010 58.092 46.024 2009 57.958 47.071 2008 57.460 45.312 2007 59.985 45.246 2006 60.957 45.670 2005 61.371 46.265 2004 62.176 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia fell from 6.288 in 2000 to 4.09 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 4.09 5.08 2024 3.94 5.15 2023 3.67 5.21 2022 3.73 5.34 2021 5.02 6.04 2020 6.39 6.38 2019 5.14 5.36 2018 5.35 5.35 2017 5.59 5.59 2016 5.71 5.90 2015 6.06 6.41 2014 6.08 6.58 2013 5.66 6.71 2012 5.23 6.79 2011 5.08 6.90 2010 5.21 7.04 2009 5.57 6.67 2008 4.24 5.79 2007 4.38 6.00 2006 4.79 6.50 2005 5.04 7.09 2004 5.40 6.80 2003 5.93 6.95 2002 6.38 6.91 2001 6.75 6.96 2000 6.29 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia fell from 12.46 in 2000 to 9.125 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 9.125 28.67 2024 9.187 29.04 2023 9.259 29.33 2022 9.379 29.67 2021 9.596 30.01 2020 9.621 30.54 2019 9.829 29.98 2018 9.765 30.15 2017 9.983 29.93 2016 10.404 29.91 2015 10.196 30.26 2014 10.121 30.47 2013 10.398 31.14 2012 10.164 31.00 2011 10.622 31.41 2010 10.637 32.37 2009 10.800 32.59 2008 9.464 31.76 2007 10.290 33.47 2006 11.568 34.27 2005 11.799 34.66 2004 12.519 35.51 2003 11.783 35.90 2002 12.195 35.96 2001 12.328 35.27 2000 12.462 35.67
03In context
Australia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Australia and Australia and New Zealand
Australia has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | =4th | 63.82 | 58.32 | 4.09 | 9.125 |
 New Zealandcompare | 23rd | 66.78 | 54.07 | 5.076 | 12.57 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Australia=4th
- New Zealand23rd
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Australia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Australia is ahead of the world, and behind
28 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median17
Statistics on which Australia does better than the middle country measured.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,742126,5746,742No real change since 2015
Australia: 126,574 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 151 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 01000No earlier reading
Australia: 100 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,230407,79725,230No real change since 2010
Australia: 407,797 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 9th of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1671.8122.16No real change since 2015
Australia: 71.81 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 19th of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0757.7432.07No earlier reading
Australia: 57.74 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,384114,58247,384No real change since 2015
Australia: 114,582 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 24th of 168 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3662.5153.36▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 62.51 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 182 · derived.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.318.5314.31No real change since 2014
Australia: 8.53 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 78th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.691.61▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 0.69 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.979.945.9No earlier reading
Australia: 79.9 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6666.5461.66▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 66.54 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 49th of 182 · derived.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8639.3935.86▲ Improved since 2014
Australia: 39.39 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 25th of 86 · derived.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5750.990.575No earlier reading
Australia: 0.99 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0051.4162.005▼ Worsened since 2013
Australia: 1.416 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.839.6112.83▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 9.61 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 114th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8137.0141.81No earlier reading
Australia: 37.01 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 106th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1620.5419.16No earlier reading
Australia: 20.54 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 81st of 179 · derived.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which Australia does worse than the middle country measured.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8919.0317.89▼ Worsened since 2014
Australia: 19.03 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 34th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6813.6616.68No earlier reading
Australia: 13.66 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 79th of 139 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Australia: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 98098No real change since 2015
Australia: 0 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.952,819657.95Moved since 2014
Australia: 2,819 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5178.5359.51No real change since 2015
Australia: 78.53 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 25th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0120.0115.01No earlier reading
Australia: 20.01 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 51st of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8819.2918.88No real change since 2015
Australia: 19.29 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 85th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8416.131.84No real change since 2015
Australia: 16.1 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 135th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.382.17614.38Moved since 2015
Australia: 2.176 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 152nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8931.2938.89No real change since 2015
Australia: 31.29 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 160th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Australia
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2021), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2021), Informal Employment Rate, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2021) and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Australia’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Australia’s best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labourjoint 4th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions7th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital11th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge18th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality23rd of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade23rd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties27th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology30th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation27th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing38th of 2003/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience38th of 1934/4 keys
- Peace & Security51st of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture54th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 49th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability80th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Australia can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia=4th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Australia and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Australia on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Australia rank on work & labour?
Australia is placed joint 4th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Australia?
63.82 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Australia?
58.32 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Australia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 59.3 in 2000 to 63.82 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 62.18 in 2004 to 58.32 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 6.288 in 2000 to 4.09 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 12.46 in 2000 to 9.125 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Australia?
No current reading is published for Australia on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 28 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Australia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Australia (banner) — tiimta, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Australia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/australia/work