As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled

Employment rate, ages 25–64

80.4%Better than the OECD median▲ 0.17 pts2025vs OECD median 80.3%

What the numbers are telling us

The employment rate for people aged 25–64 was 80.4% in 2025, up 0.17 pts on the previous reading (80.3%).

It is above its 10-year average of 78.1%, which is a better reading than usual.

Across 38 OECD countries (2025), Australia ranks 19th best of 38 on employment rate, above the median of 80.3%.

Why it matters

The share of working-age adults in a job: a broader measure than unemployment because it counts people who have given up looking.

What it should be

There is no official target, so Australia is judged against comparable countries: higher than the OECD median is better. The OECD median is 80.3%.

Employment rate: the last 15 readings

Employment rate, ages 25–64, 2011 to 2025

Source: OECD, How's Life? Current well-being (OECD WISE).

Australia ranks 19th best of 38 OECD countries

Employment rate, 2025; OECD median 80.3%

Iceland86.22

Czechia86.18

Japan85.8

Hungary84.33

Sweden83.94

Netherlands83.79

Estonia83.57

Switzerland83.56

New Zealand82.93

Portugal82.74

Ireland82.26

Australia80.43

Source: OECD and World Bank cross-country series as stored.

Every figure on this page is calculated from the stored official series (OECD, How's Life? Current well-being (OECD WISE)); the summary is written from the numbers, not edited by hand.