CensusAtlas

Indicator

First Nations unemployment rate

Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).

Australia over time

12.3% in 2021

Not directly comparable across censuses — shown per year only.

Explore on the map

See how unemployment varies across Australia.

By statistical area 2 (sa2) By council (lga) By sub-region (sa3) By region (sa4) By capital city By state / territory By australia By suburb / locality By remoteness area By indigenous location By indigenous area By indigenous region

Highest areas

SA2 areas with the highest unemployment (2021 Census).

  1. Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw 51.1%
  2. Punchbowl 44.8%
  3. Yuendumu - Anmatjere 44.3%
  4. Ludmilla - The Narrows 40.6%
  5. West Arnhem 40.4%
  6. Cunderdin 40.0%

Related indicators

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people View → First Nations median age View → First Nations Year 12 completion View → First Nations median personal income View → First Nations household income View → Speaks a First Nations language View →

Frequently asked questions

What is First Nations unemployment rate in Australia?

At the 2021 Census, First Nations unemployment rate across Australia was 12.3%. It is expressed as a percentage of the relevant group.

How is First Nations unemployment rate measured?

Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+). It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

How does First Nations unemployment rate vary across Australia?

Across the 2,147 SA2 areas with data, First Nations unemployment rate ranges from 0.0% to 51.1%, with a typical (median) area at 10.2%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Can First Nations unemployment rate be compared across censuses?

Not directly — definitions or boundaries changed between censuses, so year-to-year changes in First Nations unemployment rate should be read with caution.

Where can I see First Nations unemployment rate for my area?

Use the interactive map to compare First Nations unemployment rate down to statistical area 2 (sa2) and council (lga) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations unemployment rate [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/indicator/share-indigenous-unemployed