Of the major developed economies, Japan had the highest employment rate in the first quarter of 2024, with 79 percent of the working age population engaged in paid employment. This is perhaps not surprising, given the country's famously low fertility rate. In the same quarter, France reported the lowest employment rate at 68.7.
Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024
Worldwide, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, EU
Survey time period
Q1 2017 to Q2 2024
Age group
15-64 years
Special properties
Calendar and seasonally adjusted
Supplementary notes
Q1 2024 figures were only available for Japan and the United States. Employment rates are calculated as the ratio of the employed to the working age population. Employed people are those aged 15 or over who report that they have worked in gainful employment for at least one hour in the previous week or who had a job but were absent from work during the reference week. The working age population refers to people aged 15 to 64.
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OECD. (September 20, 2024). Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/
OECD. "Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024." Chart. September 20, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 14, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/
OECD. (2024). Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 14, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/
OECD. "Employment Rate in Major Developed Countries from 2nd Quarter 2017 to 2nd Quarter 2024." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/
OECD, Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/ (last visited December 14, 2024)
Employment rate in major developed countries from 2nd quarter 2017 to 2nd quarter 2024 [Graph], OECD, September 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1039278/employment-rate-developed-countries/