International Labor Comparisons

International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics, Adjusted to U.S. Concepts, 16 Countries, 1970-2011


TABLES


On This Page

Table 1. Unemployment rates
Table 2. Unemployment rates by sex
Table 3. Unemployment rates for teenagers and persons ages 20-24
Table 4. Unemployment rates for youth and adults
Table 5. Employment-population ratios
Table 6. Employment-population ratios by sex
Table 7. Employment shares by sector
Table 8. Labor force participation rates
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by sex
Table 10. Inactivity rates
Table 11. Inactivity rates by sex
Table 12. Working-age population

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Table 1. Unemployment rates (in percent)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

United States

 4.9 7.1 5.6 (b)4.0 5.1 4.6 4.6 5.8 9.3 9.6 8.9

Australia

 1.7 6.1 (b)6.9 6.3 (b)5.0 4.8 4.4 4.3 5.6 5.2 5.1

Canada

 5.7 (b)7.3 7.7 (b)6.1 6.0 5.5 5.2 5.3 7.3 7.1 6.5

France

 2.5 (b)5.6 (b)8.0 8.6 9.0 8.9 8.1 7.5 9.2 9.5 9.4

Germany

 0.5 2.8 (b)5.0 (b)7.8 (b)11.2 10.3 8.7 7.6 7.8 7.1 6.0

Italy

 3.2 4.4 (b)7.0 (b)10.1 7.8 6.9 6.2 6.8 7.9 8.5 8.5

Japan

 1.2 2.0 2.0 4.4 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 4.8 4.8 4.2

Korea, Republic of

 4.4 5.2 2.4 (b)4.4 3.7 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.6 3.7 3.4

Mexico

 (na) (na) (na) (na) 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.1 5.6 5.5 (b)5.3

Netherlands

 (na) 6.0 (b)7.6 (b)3.1 (b)5.3 4.3 3.6 3.1 3.8 (b)4.6 4.5

New Zealand

 (na) (na) 8.0 6.2 3.8 3.8 3.7 4.2 6.1 6.5 6.5

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 22.8 23.9 24.9 24.9

Spain

 (na) 11.7 16.5 (b)14.0 (b)9.2 8.6 8.3 11.4 18.1 20.2 21.8

Sweden

 1.5 2.0 (b)1.8 5.8 (b)7.7 7.0 6.1 6.1 8.3 8.3 7.5

Turkey

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 8.8 9.0 9.9 12.8 10.9 9.0

United Kingdom

 (na) 6.9 7.1 5.5 4.9 5.5 5.4 5.7 7.7 7.9 8.1

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See unemployment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 2. Unemployment rates by sex (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women

United States

 4.7 4.5 6.1 5.4 10.3 8.1 10.5 8.6 9.4 8.5

Australia

 4.0 4.8 4.0 4.6 5.7 5.4 5.1 5.4 4.9 5.3

Canada

 5.6 4.8 5.8 4.8 8.5 6.1 7.8 6.2 7.0 5.9

France

 7.6 8.6 7.0 8.0 9.1 9.4 9.2 9.8 9.0 9.8

Germany

 8.6 8.8 7.5 7.7 8.2 7.3 7.6 6.5 6.2 5.6

Italy

 5.0 7.9 5.6 8.6 6.9 9.3 7.7 9.7 7.7 9.6

Japan

 3.2 4.2 3.2 4.3 4.4 5.2 4.6 5.0 4.1 4.4

Korea, Republic of

 3.7 2.6 3.6 2.6 4.1 3.0 4.0 3.3 3.6 3.1

Mexico

 3.5 4.2 3.9 4.3 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.4 (b)5.3 (b)5.3

Netherlands

 3.2 4.0 2.9 3.4 3.7 3.8 (b)4.5 (b)4.6 4.6 4.5

New Zealand

 3.4 4.0 4.1 4.2 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.9 6.4 6.7

South Africa

 (na) (na) 19.8 26.4 22.0 26.2 22.8 27.5 22.5 27.8

Spain

 6.4 10.9 10.1 13.1 17.9 18.5 19.9 20.6 21.4 22.2

Sweden

 5.8 6.4 5.8 6.3 8.6 7.9 8.5 8.2 7.5 7.4

Turkey

 8.8 9.6 9.6 10.5 12.6 13.3 10.4 12.0 8.3 10.6

United Kingdom

 5.7 5.0 6.2 5.1 8.7 6.5 8.7 6.9 8.7 7.3

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See unemployment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 3. Unemployment rates for teenagers and persons ages 20-24 (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Teens 20-24 Teens 20-24 Teens 20-24 Teens 20-24 Teens 20-24

United States

 15.7 8.2 18.7 10.2 24.3 14.7 25.9 15.5 24.4 14.6

Australia

 13.7 6.3 12.8 6.1 16.4 8.2 16.9 8.1 16.1 8.4

Canada

 13.5 7.9 14.2 8.0 18.5 11.2 18.6 10.7 17.7 10.1

France

 26.1 17.5 23.9 17.5 31.0 21.6 29.8 21.4 29.6 20.6

Germany

 12.9 11.5 11.0 10.3 11.3 11.1 10.7 9.5 9.9 8.1

Italy

 31.7 18.2 35.1 18.6 40.3 23.1 45.7 25.0 47.4 26.5

Japan

 8.6 7.3 7.8 6.8 9.6 8.7 9.8 8.8 9.7 7.7

Korea, Republic of

 9.4 8.8 10.4 9.2 12.3 9.5 12.1 9.4 10.6 9.4

Mexico

 8.0 7.2 8.8 7.5 11.2 10.1 11.3 9.6 (b)10.9 (b)9.7

Netherlands

 9.9 4.5 8.4 4.5 9.5 6.2 (b)11.4 (b)7.1 10.7 5.7

New Zealand

 14.6 6.5 16.2 7.4 23.3 11.7 24.8 12.2 25.7 12.1

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na)

Spain

 29.2 15.3 40.0 20.7 56.3 33.9 62.4 37.7 64.7 43.2

Sweden

 29.6 13.8 30.5 14.0 35.8 20.1 36.0 20.4 34.1 18.3

Turkey

 17.6 25.6 18.0 27.5 22.0 33.3 17.7 29.3 14.9 24.7

United Kingdom

 21.4 10.5 21.7 11.6 26.8 15.3 29.2 15.3 31.2 16.5

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: Teenagers are defined as 14-19-year-olds in Mexico; 16-19-year-olds in Canada, Spain, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom; and 15-19-year-olds in other countries shown. Data are not available for South Africa. See unemployment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 4. Unemployment rates for youth and adults (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Youth Adults Youth Adults Youth Adults Youth Adults Youth Adults

United States

 10.5 3.6 12.8 4.6 17.6 7.9 18.4 8.2 17.3 7.6

Australia

 9.4 3.2 8.8 3.2 11.5 4.3 11.5 3.8 11.3 3.7

Canada

 10.1 4.3 10.4 4.3 13.9 6.1 13.6 5.9 12.8 5.4

France

 19.4 6.8 18.8 6.2 23.5 7.6 23.1 7.9 22.3 7.9

Germany

 11.9 8.3 10.5 7.2 11.2 7.3 9.8 6.8 8.5 5.6

Italy

 20.6 5.0 21.5 5.6 25.7 6.5 28.2 7.1 29.4 7.0

Japan

 7.5 3.2 7.0 3.3 8.9 4.4 9.0 4.4 8.1 3.9

Korea, Republic of

 8.8 2.8 9.3 2.7 9.8 3.2 9.8 3.3 9.6 3.0

Mexico

 7.6 2.8 8.1 3.0 10.6 4.3 10.3 4.3 (b)10.2 (b)4.1

Netherlands

 6.9 2.9 6.3 2.5 7.7 3.0 (b)9.0 (b)3.7 7.8 3.9

New Zealand

 10.2 2.3 11.3 2.7 16.6 4.1 17.0 4.5 17.2 4.4

South Africa

 (na) (na) 45.5 18.2 48.1 19.3 50.5 20.3 49.8 20.6

Spain

 18.5 7.1 25.0 9.8 38.5 16.0 42.3 18.1 47.1 19.5

Sweden

 18.9 4.3 19.3 4.2 24.9 5.9 25.0 5.9 22.7 5.2

Turkey

 22.8 5.6 24.1 6.5 29.3 8.9 25.3 7.7 21.4 6.3

United Kingdom

 14.4 3.7 15.2 4.0 19.3 5.6 19.9 5.8 21.2 5.8

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: Youth are defined as 14-24-year-olds in Mexico; 16-24-year-olds in Canada, Spain, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom; and 15-24-year-olds in other countries shown. Adults are defined as persons ages 25 and over. See unemployment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 5. Employment-population ratios (in percent)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

United States

 57.4 59.2 (b)62.8 (b)64.4 62.7 63.1 63.0 62.2 59.3 58.5 58.4

Australia

 61.1 58.3 (b)60.2 60.3 62.1 62.7 63.3 63.9 62.9 63.0 63.1

Canada

 54.5 (b)60.3 62.2 62.0 63.3 63.5 64.0 64.1 62.2 62.3 62.5

France

 56.1 (b)53.9 (b)52.2 51.5 51.1 51.1 51.6 52.1 51.3 51.2 51.0

Germany

 56.6 53.1 (b)52.3 (b)52.2 (b)51.1 52.1 53.2 54.0 54.0 54.4 55.7

Italy

 47.4 46.0 (b)43.9 (b)44.5 44.9 45.5 45.6 45.6 44.6 44.0 44.0

Japan

 63.8 61.3 61.3 59.0 57.3 57.5 57.6 57.4 56.4 56.2 56.2

Korea, Republic of

 55.1 55.9 58.6 (b)58.5 59.7 59.7 59.8 59.5 58.6 58.7 59.1

Mexico

 (na) (na) (na) (na) 55.0 55.9 55.8 55.5 54.7 54.6 (b)54.8

Netherlands

 (na) 52.1 (b)52.7 (b)61.1 (b)60.9 61.7 62.9 63.4 62.8 (b)60.8 60.5

New Zealand

 (na) (na) 58.8 61.3 65.2 65.7 65.9 65.6 64.0 63.6 63.9

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 44.8 42.7 40.8 40.8

Spain

 (na) 44.1 42.1 (b)45.9 (b)51.7 53.1 53.8 52.8 48.9 47.7 46.8

Sweden

 63.1 65.6 (b)66.1 60.1 (b)59.8 60.4 61.3 61.3 59.5 59.5 60.3

Turkey

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 40.9 40.8 41.0 40.3 42.1 44.1

United Kingdom

 (na) 58.5 59.8 59.4 60.0 60.0 60.0 59.9 58.5 58.2 58.0

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See employment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 6. Employment-population ratios by sex (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women

United States

 69.8 56.6 68.5 56.2 64.5 54.4 63.7 53.6 63.9 53.2

Australia

 70.4 56.4 70.7 57.2 69.1 56.9 69.5 56.6 69.5 56.8

Canada

 68.7 59.5 68.8 59.6 65.9 58.7 66.2 58.5 66.6 58.5

France

 57.3 46.6 57.6 47.1 56.5 46.7 56.3 46.5 56.1 46.4

Germany

 59.7 47.1 60.5 47.8 59.9 48.3 60.2 48.9 61.5 50.2

Italy

 57.3 34.9 56.9 35.3 55.3 34.7 54.4 34.5 54.2 34.7

Japan

 70.1 46.1 69.6 45.9 68.0 45.7 67.5 45.7 67.6 45.6

Korea, Republic of

 71.3 48.9 70.9 48.7 70.1 47.7 70.1 47.8 70.5 48.1

Mexico

 75.1 38.9 74.5 38.9 72.4 38.8 72.2 38.8 (b)72.4 (b)39

Netherlands

 69.6 56.3 69.8 57.2 68.6 57.1 (b)66.4 (b)55.3 65.7 55.4

New Zealand

 73.0 59.3 72.1 59.5 70.1 58.4 69.7 57.8 69.9 58.3

South Africa

 (na) (na) 52.7 37.4 49.7 36.2 47.7 34.3 47.4 34.6

Spain

 64.6 43.4 62.2 43.7 56.2 41.9 54.3 41.4 52.9 41.0

Sweden

 65.4 57.4 65.5 57.3 63.0 55.9 63.5 55.6 64.0 56.6

Turkey

 62.5 19.9 62.4 20.4 60.4 20.9 62.3 22.6 64.8 24.1

United Kingdom

 66.7 53.6 66.4 53.8 64.1 53.2 63.8 52.9 63.6 52.8

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See employment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 7. Employment shares by sector, 1980 and 2011 (in percent)
Agriculture Industry Manufacturing Services
1980 2011 1980 2011 1980 2011 1980 2011

United States

 3.4 (b)1.6 29.3 (b)17.3 22.1 (b)10.2 67.3 (b)81.1

Australia

 6.5 (b)2.9 28.6 (b)19.5 19.4 (b)8.5 64.9 (b)77.6

Canada

 4.9 2.1 27.3 19.1 19.1 10.2 67.8 78.8

France

 10.7 (b)3.0 36.1 (b)20.9 26.3 (b)13.4 53.2 (b)76.1

Germany

 5.2 (b)1.6 42.9 (b)27 34.0 (b)20.0 51.9 (b)71.4

Italy

 14.2 (b)3.7 37.0 (b)27.3 26.9 (b)19.0 48.8 (b)69

Japan

 10.1 3.8 35.1 24.9 25.0 16.8 54.8 71.3

Korea, Republic of

 34.0 (b)6.4 28.7 (b)24.2 21.6 (b)16.9 37.3 (b)69.4

Mexico

 (na) (b)13.5 (na) (b)23.7 (na) (b)15.4 (na) (b)62.8

Netherlands

 5.2 (b)2.8 29.7 (b)16.1 21.3 (b)10.2 65.1 (b)81.1

New Zealand

 (na) (b)6.9 (na) (b)19.4 (na) (b)11.3 (na) (b)73.7

South Africa

 (na) 4.6 (na) 23.6 (na) 13.3 (na) 71.8

Spain

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na)

Sweden

 5.6 (b)2.0 31.5 (b)19.1 24.3 (b)12.2 62.9 (b)78.9

Turkey

 (na) 24.3 (na) 26.0 (na) 18.4 (na) 49.7

United Kingdom

 2.6 (b)1.2 36.2 (b)17.7 28.3 (b)9.8 61.2 (b)81.1

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: Agriculture includes agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing. Industry includes manufacturing, mining, and construction. Services includes transportation, communication, public utilities, trade, finance, public administration, private household services, and miscellaneous services. For Spain, BLS estimates of sectoral employment are not available. See employment section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 8. Labor force participation rates (in percent)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

United States

 60.4 63.8 (b)66.5 (b)67.1 66.0 66.2 66.0 66.0 65.4 64.7 64.1

Australia

 62.1 62.1 (b)64.7 64.4 65.4 65.8 66.2 66.7 66.7 66.5 66.5

Canada

 57.8 (b)65.0 67.4 66.0 67.3 67.2 67.5 67.7 67.2 67.0 66.8

France

 57.5 (b)57.2 (b)56.8 56.3 56.2 56.1 56.2 56.3 56.6 56.5 56.3

Germany

 56.9 54.7 (b)55 (b)56.7 (b)57.5 58.1 58.3 58.4 58.5 58.6 59.2

Italy

 49.0 48.1 (b)47.2 (b)49.5 48.7 48.9 48.6 49.0 48.4 48.1 48.1

Japan

 64.5 62.6 62.6 61.7 59.5 59.6 59.8 59.5 59.3 59.1 58.7

Korea, Republic of

 57.6 59.0 60.0 (b)61.2 62.0 61.9 61.8 61.5 60.8 61.0 61.1

Mexico

 (na) (na) (na) (na) 57.1 58.0 58.0 57.8 57.9 57.7 (b)57.8

Netherlands

 (na) 55.4 (b)57.0 (b)63.0 (b)64.2 64.5 65.2 65.4 65.2 (b)63.7 63.3

New Zealand

 (na) (na) 63.9 65.3 67.8 68.3 68.5 68.5 68.2 68.0 68.4

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 58.0 56.1 54.3 54.3

Spain

 (na) 49.9 50.5 (b)53.3 (b)57.0 58.1 58.6 59.6 59.7 59.8 59.8

Sweden

 64.0 66.9 (b)67.4 63.8 (b)64.8 64.9 65.3 65.3 64.8 64.9 65.1

Turkey

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 44.9 44.9 45.5 46.2 47.2 48.4

United Kingdom

 (na) 62.8 64.3 62.8 63.1 63.5 63.4 63.5 63.4 63.2 63.2

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See labor force section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by sex and women's share of the labor force (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Women's
share of
labor force

United States

 73.2 59.3 73.0 59.5 72.0 59.2 71.2 58.6 70.5 58.1 46.6

Australia

 73.3 59.3 73.6 60.0 73.3 60.1 73.3 59.8 73.1 60.0 45.6

Canada

 72.8 62.5 73.0 62.6 72.0 62.5 71.8 62.4 71.7 62.2 47.2

France

 62.0 51.0 62.0 51.2 62.1 51.6 62.0 51.6 61.7 51.5 48.0

Germany

 65.4 51.6 65.4 51.8 65.3 52.1 65.1 52.4 65.5 53.2 46.2

Italy

 60.3 37.9 60.2 38.6 59.4 38.2 59.0 38.2 58.7 38.4 41.6

Japan

 72.4 48.1 71.9 48.0 71.2 48.2 70.8 48.2 70.5 47.7 42.1

Korea, Republic of

 74.0 50.2 73.5 50.0 73.1 49.2 73.0 49.4 73.1 49.7 41.5

Mexico

 77.9 40.6 77.5 40.6 76.7 41.1 76.5 41.0 (b)76.4 (b)41.2 37.5

Netherlands

 71.9 58.7 71.9 59.1 71.2 59.4 (b)69.6 (b)58.0 68.9 58.0 46.5

New Zealand

 75.6 61.8 75.2 62.1 74.7 62.2 74.4 62.1 74.6 62.5 47.0

South Africa

 (na) (na) 65.8 50.8 63.7 49.0 61.8 47.4 61.2 47.9 45.4

Spain

 69.0 48.7 69.3 50.3 68.4 51.4 67.8 52.1 67.2 52.8 45.2

Sweden

 69.5 61.3 69.5 61.2 69.0 60.7 69.4 60.6 69.2 61.1 47.4

Turkey

 68.6 22.1 69.0 22.8 69.1 24.1 69.6 25.6 70.6 27.0 28.4

United Kingdom

 70.7 56.4 70.8 56.7 70.2 56.8 69.9 56.8 69.7 56.9 46.2

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See labor force section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 10. Inactivity rates (in percent)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

United States

 39.6 36.2 (b)33.5 (b)32.9 34.0 33.8 34.0 34.0 34.6 35.3 35.9

Australia

 37.9 37.9 (b)35.3 35.6 34.6 34.2 33.8 33.3 33.3 33.5 33.5

Canada

 42.2 (b)35.0 32.6 34.0 32.7 32.8 32.5 32.3 32.8 33.0 33.2

France

 42.5 (b)42.8 (b)43.2 43.7 43.8 43.9 43.8 43.7 43.4 43.5 43.7

Germany

 43.1 45.3 (b)45.0 (b)43.3 (b)42.5 41.9 41.7 41.6 41.5 41.4 40.8

Italy

 51.0 51.9 (b)52.8 (b)50.5 51.3 51.1 51.4 51.0 51.6 51.9 51.9

Japan

 35.5 37.4 37.4 38.3 40.5 40.4 40.2 40.5 40.7 40.9 41.3

Korea, Republic of

 42.4 41.0 40.0 (b)38.8 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.5 39.2 39.0 38.9

Mexico

 (na) (na) (na) (na) 42.9 42.0 42.0 42.2 42.1 42.3 (b)42.2

Netherlands

 (na) 44.6 (b)43 (b)37 (b)35.8 35.5 34.8 34.6 34.8 (b)36.3 36.7

New Zealand

 (na) (na) 36.1 34.7 32.2 31.7 31.5 31.5 31.8 32.0 31.6

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 42.0 43.9 45.7 45.7

Spain

 (na) 50.1 49.5 (b)46.7 (b)43.0 41.9 41.4 40.4 40.3 40.2 40.2

Sweden

 36.0 33.1 (b)32.6 36.2 (b)35.2 35.1 34.7 34.7 35.2 35.1 34.9

Turkey

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 55.1 55.1 54.5 53.8 52.8 51.6

United Kingdom

 (na) 37.2 35.7 37.2 36.9 36.5 36.6 36.5 36.6 36.8 36.8

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See labor force section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 11. Inactivity rates by sex (in percent)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women

United States

 26.8 40.7 27.0 40.5 28.0 40.8 28.8 41.4 29.5 41.9

Australia

 26.7 40.7 26.4 40.0 26.7 39.9 26.7 40.2 26.9 40.0

Canada

 27.2 37.5 27.0 37.4 28.0 37.5 28.2 37.6 28.3 37.8

France

 38.0 49.0 38.0 48.8 37.9 48.4 38.0 48.4 38.3 48.5

Germany

 34.6 48.4 34.6 48.2 34.7 47.9 34.9 47.6 34.5 46.8

Italy

 39.7 62.1 39.8 61.4 40.6 61.8 41.0 61.8 41.3 61.6

Japan

 27.6 51.9 28.1 52.0 28.8 51.8 29.2 51.8 29.5 52.3

Korea, Republic of

 26.0 49.8 26.5 50.0 26.9 50.8 27.0 50.6 26.9 50.3

Mexico

 22.1 59.4 22.5 59.4 23.3 58.9 23.5 59.0 (b)23.6 (b)58.8

Netherlands

 28.1 41.3 28.1 40.9 28.8 40.6 (b)30.4 (b)42.0 31.1 42.0

New Zealand

 24.4 38.2 24.8 37.9 25.3 37.8 25.6 37.9 25.4 37.5

South Africa

 (na) (na) 34.2 49.2 36.3 51.0 38.2 52.6 38.8 52.1

Spain

 31.0 51.3 30.7 49.7 31.6 48.6 32.2 47.9 32.8 47.2

Sweden

 30.5 38.7 30.5 38.8 31.0 39.3 30.6 39.4 30.8 38.9

Turkey

 31.4 77.9 31.0 77.2 30.9 75.9 30.4 74.4 29.4 73.0

United Kingdom

 29.3 43.6 29.2 43.3 29.8 43.2 30.1 43.2 30.3 43.1

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series; see country notes in this report for more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See labor force section of definitions page in this report for definitions.
Table 12. Working-age population (in thousands)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

United States

 137,085 (b)167,745 (b)189,164 (b)212,577 (b)226,082 228,815 231,867 233,788 235,801 237,830 239,618

Australia

 8,819 10,778 (b)13,051 14,902 16,099 16,371 16,701 17,015 17,401 17,854 18,121

Canada

 14,528 (b)18,032 20,852 23,687 25,345 25,711 26,094 26,486 26,883 27,250 27,578

France

 36,151 39,750 43,344 46,113 48,124 48,502 48,827 49,119 49,390 49,653 49,918

Germany

 46,094 49,848 53,438 (b)69,365 (b)70,752 70,892 70,968 71,021 70,943 70,858 70,991

Italy

 40,279 43,860 48,016 (b)48,029 49,606 49,913 50,301 50,711 51,064 51,311 51,579

Japan

 78,616 89,078 100,656 108,120 109,828 109,959 110,189 110,270 110,271 110,261 110,882

Korea, Republic of

 17,468 24,463 30,887 (b)36,186 38,300 38,762 39,170 39,598 40,092 40,590 41,052

Mexico

 (na) (na) (na) (na) 73,292 74,282 75,538 76,761 78,314 79,260 (b)83,409

Netherlands

 (na) 10,588 (b)11,865 (b)12,703 (b)13,075 13,128 13,190 13,271 13,368 13,459 13,533

New Zealand

 (na) (na) 2,612 2,938 3,199 3,252 3,297 3,335 3,379 3,427 3,465

South Africa

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 30,967 31,494 32,007 32,494

Spain

 (na) 26,369 30,160 (b)33,430 (b)36,326 36,920 37,575 38,112 38,325 38,375 38,398

Sweden

 6,106 6,441 6,823 7,043 7,243 7,312 7,387 7,467 7,547 7,620 7,683

Turkey

 (na) (na) (na) (na) (na) 49,174 49,994 50,772 51,686 52,541 53,593

United Kingdom

 (na) 42,570 44,706 46,085 47,792 48,197 48,611 48,998 49,363 49,741 50,112

Footnotes:
(b) Indicates a break in series from the previous year shown; see country notes in this report for exact break year and more information.
(na) Not available.

NOTE: See working-age population section of definitions page in this report for definitions.

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Last Modified Date: June 7, 2012

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