Labor force with basic education in Australia
Australia: Labor force with basic education was 41.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in Australia, 2001–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force with basic education in Australia stood at 41.3%.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in Australia peaked at 66.4% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 40.4%, in 2020.
Australia ranks 82nd of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.4% | 49.1% | 66.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 53.2% | 42.4% | 65.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.4% | 40.4% | 42.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More work & labour data for Australia
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 88.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 62.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 70.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 70.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 70.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 66.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in Australia?
- Labor force with basic education in Australia was 41.3% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.4% in 2009.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.4% in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for labor force with basic education?
- Australia ranks 82nd out of 123 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).