In December 2018, the unemployment rate for the working-age population was 5.1%, compared with 6.4% in December 1978 (Figure 2). In the same months, the male unemployment rate was 5.0% in 2018, compared with 5.5% in 1978. The female unemployment rate saw the greatest change, at 5.2% in 2018 compared with 8.2% in 1978.
In 2018, the highest rate of unemployment for the working-age population was in Outer regional areas at 6.8%, compared with 2013 where the highest unemployment rate was in Inner regional areas at 6.1% (Figure 3). In 2018, for people aged 15–24, the highest unemployment rate was in Outer regional areas (15.8%). In 2013, the highest unemployment rate for those aged 15–24 was in Remote and very remote areas (11.7%).
Outer regional areas showed the greatest variance in unemployment rates from 2013 to 2018 for both the working-age population and those aged 15–24. Over this period, the unemployment rate rose in Outer regional areas by 31% for the working-age population (5.2% to 6.8%), and 70% for those aged 15–24 (9.3% to 15.8%). The unemployment rate in Major cities remained stable between 2013 and 2018 for the working-age population (5.7% and 5.2% respectively), however it showed greater variance for those aged 15–24 between 2013 and 2018 (11.4% and 10.2% respectively) (ABS 2013, 2018c).