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Data · What if the trend continues?

Unemployment rate in Australia: what if the recent trend continues?

Unemployment rate in Australia keeps rising in the latest official figures. Here is what it would mean in everyday money if that pace carried on — and if it slowed or stopped.

Latest: 4.72% (September 2026) · Average over the last 12 months: +0.29 pp a year · Australian Bureau of Statistics

Out of work per 1,000 people in the labour force

PathTodayIn 1 yearIn 3 yearsIn 5 years
Recent pace continues
+0.29 pp a year
47505662
Pace halves
+0.14 pp a year
47495154
Stops changing
0 pp a year
47474747

At the recent pace, about 56 in every 1,000 people in the labour force would be out of work in 3 years, compared with 47 today.

How this is calculated