Chart 2.1 Size of the labor force, 2004
Millions
U.S. |
147.4 |
Canada |
17.0 |
Mexico |
42.6 |
Australia |
10.2 |
Japan |
65.8 |
Korea |
23.4 |
New Zealand |
2.1 |
Singapore |
2.2 |
EU-15 |
179.5 |
Austria |
3.9 |
Denmark |
2.9 |
France |
26.9 |
Germany |
39.8 |
Ireland |
1.9 |
Italy |
24.9 |
Netherlands |
8.5 |
Norway |
2.4 |
Portugal |
5.5 |
Spain |
20.1 |
Sweden |
4.6 |
U.K. |
29.7 |
Chart 2.2 Average annual growth rates in the labor force, 1994-2004
Percent
U.S. |
1.2% |
Canada |
1.7% |
Mexico |
2.4% |
Australia |
1.6% |
Japan |
0.0% |
Korea |
1.4% |
New Zealand |
1.7% |
Singapore |
2.8% |
EU-15 |
0.8% |
Austria |
0.2% |
Denmark |
0.4% |
France |
0.9% |
Germany |
0.2% |
Ireland |
3.0% |
Italy |
0.6% |
Netherlands |
1.7% |
Norway |
1.1% |
Portugal |
1.4% |
Spain |
2.3% |
Sweden |
0.4% |
U.K. |
0.6% |
Chart 2.3 Labor force participation rates by sex, 2004
Blue equals percentage of men
Yellow equals percentage of women
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 73.3% | yellow equals 59.2% |
Canada |
blue equals 73.2% | yellow equals 61.7% |
Mexico |
blue equals 81.9% | yellow equals 40.3% |
Australia |
blue equals 72.7% | yellow equals 57.0% |
Japan |
blue equals 72.2% | yellow equals 47.6% |
Korea |
blue equals 71.2% | yellow equals 49.8% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 73.8% | yellow equals 59.1% |
Singapore |
blue equals 76.2% | yellow equals 54.9% |
EU-15 |
blue equals 65.5% | yellow equals 48.8% |
Austria |
blue equals 65.5% | yellow equals 50.0% |
Denmark |
blue equals 70.9% | yellow equals 60.4% |
France |
blue equals 63.3% | yellow equals 51.1% |
Germany |
blue equals 63.9% | yellow equals 49.6% |
Ireland |
blue equals 3.0% | yellow equals 59.2% |
Italy |
blue equals 70.8% | yellow equals 49.4% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 74.2% | yellow equals 57.0% |
Norway |
blue equals 69.5% | yellow equals 59.8% |
Portugal |
blue equals 69.5% | yellow equals 54.8% |
Spain |
blue equals 66.6% | yellow equals 44.3% |
Sweden |
blue equals 67.8% | yellow equals 59.7% |
U.K. |
blue equals 70.5% | yellow equals 55.9% |
Chart 2.4 Labor force participation rates by age, 2004 for youth and older workers
Percent - Youth participation rates
U.S. |
61.1% |
Canada |
67.0% |
Mexico |
48.3% |
Australia |
67.2% |
Japan |
44.2% |
Korea |
34.7% |
New Zealand |
62.6% |
EU-15 |
48.2% |
Austria |
56.1% |
Denmark |
66.4% |
France |
37.5% |
Germany |
47.5% |
Ireland |
48.8% |
Italy |
35.6% |
Netherlands |
72.0% |
Norway |
61.1% |
Portugal |
43.6% |
Spain |
49.2% |
Sweden |
51.5% |
U.K. |
67.4% |
Percent - Older workers participation rates
U.S. |
62.3% |
Canada |
57.4% |
Mexico |
55.7% |
Australia |
53.8% |
Japan |
66.0% |
Korea |
59.7% |
New Zealand |
68.9% |
EU-15 |
44.6% |
Austria |
28.7% |
Denmark |
65.5% |
France |
39.6% |
Germany |
44.2% |
Ireland |
50.7% |
Italy |
31.8% |
Netherlands |
46.3% |
Norway |
68.8% |
Portugal |
53.2% |
Spain |
44.4% |
Sweden |
73.1% |
U.K. |
58.0% |
Chart 2.5 Employment as a percent of the working-age population, 2004
Percent
U.S. |
62.3% |
Canada |
63.4% |
Mexico |
58.1% |
Australia |
61.2% |
Japan |
57.1% |
Korea |
58.3% |
New Zealand |
63.7% |
Singapore |
61.8% |
EU-15 |
52.1% |
Austria |
54.6% |
Denmark |
61.8% |
France |
51.3% |
Germany |
50.9% |
Ireland |
57.3% |
Italy |
45.1% |
Netherlands |
62.4% |
Norway |
61.6% |
Portugal |
57.6% |
Spain |
49.1% |
Sweden |
59.5% |
U.K. |
60.0% |
Chart 2.6 Average annual growth rates in employment, 1994-2004
Percent
U.S. |
1.2% |
Canada |
2.0% |
Mexico |
2.4% |
Australia |
2.0% |
Japan |
minus 0.2% |
Korea |
1.3% |
New Zealand |
2.2% |
Singapore |
2.5% |
EU-15 |
1.1% |
Austria |
0.1% |
Denmark |
0.7% |
France |
1.1% |
Germany |
0.0% |
Ireland |
4.2% |
Italy |
0.9% |
Netherlands |
1.9% |
Norway |
1.2% |
Portugal |
1.4% |
Spain |
3.9% |
Sweden |
0.7% |
U.K. |
1.0% |
Chart 2.7 Average annual growth rates in full-time and part-time employment, 1994-2004
Full-time equals blue
Part-time equals yellow
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 1.5% | yellow equals 0.7% |
Canada |
blue equals 2.1% | yellow equals 1.8% |
Mexico |
blue equals 2.8% | yellow equals 1.5% |
Australia |
blue equals 1.5% | yellow equals 2.9% |
Japan |
blue equals minus 0.8% | yellow equals 1.5% |
Korea |
blue equals 0.8% | yellow equals 7.7% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 2.1% | yellow equals 2.7% |
EU-15 |
blue equals 0.9% | yellow equals 3.1% |
Austria |
blue equals 65.5% | yellow equals 50.0% |
Denmark |
blue equals minus 0.9% | yellow equals 3.4% |
France |
blue equals 1.0% | yellow equals 0.6% |
Germany |
blue equals minus 0.9% | yellow equals 3.9% |
Ireland |
blue equals 3.6% | yellow equals 7.8% |
Italy |
blue equals 0.5% | yellow equals 5.1% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 1.0% | yellow equals 3.9% |
Norway |
blue equals 1.2% | yellow equals 0.9% |
Portugal |
blue equals 1.3% | yellow equals 1.4% |
Spain |
blue equals 3.2% | yellow equals 6.1% |
Sweden |
blue equals 0.9% | yellow equals minus 0.2% |
U.K. |
blue equals 0.6% | yellow equals 1.6% |
Chart 2.8 Annual hours worked per employed person, 1994 and 2004
Blue equals 1994
Yellow equals 2004
Hours
U.S. |
blue equals 1864 | yellow equals 1824 |
Canada |
blue equals 1749 | yellow equals 1751 |
Mexico |
blue equals 1863 | yellow equals 1848 |
Australia |
blue equals 1875 | yellow equals 1816 |
Japan |
blue equals minus 1898 | yellow equals 1789 |
Korea |
blue equals 2471 | yellow equals 2380 |
New Zealand |
blue equals 1851 | yellow equals 1826 |
Austria |
blue equals 1587 | yellow equals 1550 |
Denmark |
blue equals minus 1495 | yellow equals 1454 |
France |
blue equals 1582 | yellow equals 1441 |
Germany |
blue equals minus 1536 | yellow equals 1443 |
Ireland |
blue equals 1824 | yellow equals 1642 |
Italy |
blue equals 1607 | yellow equals 1585 |
Netherlands |
blue equals 1362 | yellow equals 1357 |
Norway |
blue equals 1432 | yellow equals 1363 |
Portugal |
blue equals 1744 | yellow equals 1694 |
Spain |
blue equals 1816 | yellow equals 1799 |
Sweden |
blue equals 1621 | yellow equals minus 1585 |
U.K. |
blue equals 1736 | yellow equals 1669 |
Chart 2.9 Unemployment rates, 2004
Percent
U.S. |
5.5% |
Canada |
6.4% |
Mexico |
3.0% |
Australia |
5.5% |
Japan |
4.8% |
Korea |
3.7% |
New Zealand |
3.9% |
Singapore |
4.8% |
EU-15 |
8.1% |
Austria |
4.8% |
Denmark |
5.4% |
France |
9.8% |
Germany |
9.9% |
Ireland |
4.5% |
Italy |
8.1% |
Netherlands |
4.7% |
Norway |
4.4% |
Portugal |
6.7% |
Spain |
10.9% |
Sweden |
6.6% |
U.K. |
4.8% |
Chart 2.10 Youth unemployment rates, 2004
Blue equals Teenagers
Yellow equals 20 - 24-year-olds
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 17.0% | yellow equals 9.4% |
Canada |
blue equals 17.1% | yellow equals 9.6% |
Mexico |
blue equals 7.0% | yellow equals 5.9% |
Australia |
blue equals 15.8% | yellow equals 8.5% |
Japan |
blue equals 12.0% | yellow equals 9.1% |
Korea |
blue equals 13.4% | yellow equals 9.5% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 12.6% | yellow equals 6.9% |
Singapore |
blue equals 20.0% | yellow equals 6.3% |
EU-15 |
blue equals 18.4% | yellow equals 15.8% |
Austria |
blue equals 13.4% | yellow equals 7.8% |
Denmark |
blue equals 7.0% | yellow equals 8.5% |
France |
blue equals 26.5% | yellow equals 20.4% |
Germany |
blue equals 8.7% | yellow equals 13.3% |
Ireland |
blue equals 12.1% | yellow equals 6.9% |
Italy |
blue equals 34.4% | yellow equals 21.0% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 10.9% | yellow equals 6.9% |
Norway |
blue equals 16.7% | yellow equals 9.0% |
Portugal |
blue equals 21.8% | yellow equals 13.5% |
Spain |
blue equals 30.6% | yellow equals 19.9% |
Sweden |
blue equals 22.8% | yellow equals 14.9% |
U.K. |
blue equals 15.5% | yellow equals 7.9% |
Chart 2.11 Ratio of youth to adult unemployment rates, 2004
Ratio
U.S. |
2.7 |
Canada |
2.3 |
Mexico |
3.1 |
Australia |
2.8 |
Japan |
2.3 |
Korea |
3.6 |
New Zealand |
3.4 |
Singapore |
2.0 |
EU-15 |
2.2 |
Austria |
2.3 |
Denmark |
1.6 |
France |
2.6 |
Germany |
1.3 |
Ireland |
2.2 |
Italy |
3.6 |
Netherlands |
2.1 |
Norway |
3.6 |
Portugal |
2.7 |
Spain |
2.3 |
Sweden |
3.2 |
U.K. |
3.7 |
Chart 2.12 Persons unemployed one year or longer, 2004 as a percent of total unemployment
Percent
U.S. |
12.7% |
Canada |
9.5% |
Mexico |
1.1% |
Australia |
20.7% |
Japan |
33.7% |
Korea |
1.1% |
New Zealand |
11.7% |
EU-15 |
42.4% |
Austria |
24.5% |
Denmark |
22.6% |
France |
41.6% |
Germany |
51.8% |
Ireland |
34.3% |
Italy |
49.7% |
Netherlands |
32.5% |
Norway |
9.2% |
Portugal |
43.2% |
Spain |
37.7% |
Sweden |
18.9% |
U.K. |
21.4% |
Blue equals Men
Yellow equals Women
Ratio
U.S. |
blue equals 3.0 | yellow equals 3.8 |
Canada |
blue equals 2.0 | yellow equals 2.2 |
Mexico |
blue equals 0.6 | yellow equals 0.6 |
Australia |
blue equals 2.6 | yellow equals 3.0 |
Japan |
blue equals 2.6 | yellow equals 1.4 |
Korea |
blue equals 1.0 | yellow equals 0.6 |
New Zealand |
blue equals 1.4 | yellow equals 1.5 |
Austria |
blue equals 4.7 | yellow equals 3.2 |
Denmark |
blue equals 1.5 | yellow equals 1.8 |
France |
blue equals 1.6 | yellow equals 1.8 |
Germany |
blue equals 4.7 | yellow equals 2.8 |
Ireland |
blue equals 2.8 | yellow equals 2.3 |
Italy |
blue equals 1.9 | yellow equals 1.9 |
Netherlands |
blue equals 1.6 | yellow equals 1.9 |
Norway |
blue equals 1.6 | yellow equals 1.5 |
Portugal |
blue equals na | yellow equals 1.2 |
Spain |
blue equals 1.4 | yellow equals 1.9 |
Sweden |
blue equals 1.2 | yellow equals 2.6 |
U.K. |
blue equals 3.1 | yellow equals 2.5 |
Red equals below upper secondary
Yellow equals upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary
Blue equals tertiary
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 38.0% | yellow equals 49% |
red equals 12% |
Canada |
blue equals 44% | yellow equals 40% |
red equals 16% |
Mexico |
blue equals 15% | yellow equals 6% |
red equals 79% |
Australia |
blue equals 31% | yellow equals 31% |
red equals 38% |
Japan |
blue equals 37% | yellow equals 47% |
red equals 16% |
Korea |
blue equals 29% | yellow equals 44% |
red equals 27% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 31% | yellow equals 47% |
red equals 22% |
Austria |
blue equals 15% | yellow equals 64% |
red equals 21% |
Denmark |
blue equals 32% | yellow equals 50% |
red equals 18% |
France |
blue equals 23% | yellow equals 41% |
red equals 35% |
Germany |
blue equals 24% | yellow equals 59% |
red equals 17% |
Ireland |
blue equals 26% | yellow equals 35% |
red equals 38% |
Italy |
blue equals 10% | yellow equals 36% |
red equals 54% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 24% | yellow equals 42% |
red equals 34% |
Norway |
blue equals 31% | yellow equals 56% |
red equals 13% |
Portugal |
blue equals 11% | yellow equals 12% |
red equals 77% |
Spain |
blue equals 25% | yellow equals 18% |
red equals 57% |
Sweden |
blue equals 33% | yellow equals 49% |
red equals 18% |
U.K. |
blue equals 28% | yellow equals 56% |
red equals 16% |