The graph above illustrates unemployment rates in Australia from 1997 to 2012. While the graph shows a dramatic overall drop in unemployment from 8.19 per cent in January 1997, the unemployment rate in Australia again peaked to 5.7 per cent in late 2009 before falling to 5.1 per cent in 2010. As of November 2011, Australia’s unemployment rate had increased again to 5.3 per cent; however, the graph demonstrates a projected unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent in January 2012.

The graph above shows long-term (over one year) unemployment rates in Australia from 1980 to 2009. As the graph demonstrates, the long-term unemployment rate peaked in December 1992.