Chart 2.1 Size of the labor force, 2006
Millions
U.S. |
151.4 |
Canada |
17.4 |
Mexico |
43.2 |
Australia |
10.7 |
Japan |
66.0 |
Republic of Korea |
24.0 |
New Zealand |
2.2 |
Singapore |
2.2 |
EU-15 |
182.0 |
Austria |
4.1 |
Denmark |
2.9 |
France |
27.2 |
Germany |
41.3 |
Ireland |
2.1 |
Italy |
24.4 |
Netherlands |
8.4 |
Norway |
2.4 |
Portugal |
5.6 |
Spain |
21.5 |
Sweden |
4.7 |
U.K. |
30.5 |
Chart 2.2 Average annual growth rates for the labor force, 1996-2006
Percent
U.S. |
1.2% |
Canada |
1.7% |
Mexico |
2.0% |
Australia |
1.6% |
Japan |
minus 0.1% |
Republic of Korea |
1.2% |
New Zealand |
1.7% |
Singapore |
2.5% |
EU-15 |
0.9% |
Austria |
0.7% |
Denmark |
0.3% |
France |
0.9% |
Germany |
0.5% |
Ireland |
3.4% |
Italy |
0.7% |
Netherlands |
1.2% |
Norway |
0.9% |
Portugal |
1.6% |
Spain |
2.7% |
Sweden |
0.6% |
U.K. |
0.8% |
Chart 2.3 Labor force participation rates by sex, 2006
Blue equals percentage of men
Yellow equals percentage of women
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 73.5% | yellow equals 59.4% |
Canada |
blue equals 72.8% | yellow equals 62.1% |
Mexico |
blue equals 77.0% | yellow equals 42.9% |
Australia |
blue equals 73.0% | yellow equals 58.4% |
Japan |
blue equals 73.0% | yellow equals 47.9% |
Republic of Korea |
blue equals 71.5% | yellow equals 50.6% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 74.9% | yellow equals 60.7% |
Singapore |
blue equals 76.2% | yellow equals 54.9% |
EU-15 |
blue equals 64.6% | yellow equals 48.7% |
Austria |
blue equals 66.7% | yellow equals 51.9% |
Denmark |
blue equals 70.4% | yellow equals 60.8% |
France |
blue equals 62.4% | yellow equals 50.9% |
Germany |
blue equals 65.7% | yellow equals 51.2% |
Ireland |
blue equals 72.7% | yellow equals 52.5% |
Italy |
blue equals 60.6% | yellow equals 38.1% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 71.1% | yellow equals 56.4% |
Norway |
blue equals 69.5% | yellow equals 60.3% |
Portugal |
blue equals 69.5% | yellow equals 55.8% |
Spain |
blue equals 67.8% | yellow equals 47.0% |
Sweden |
blue equals 69.3% | yellow equals 60.8% |
U.K. |
blue equals 70.9% | yellow equals 56.7% |
Chart 2.4 Labor force participation rates for youth, 2006
Percent - Persons ages 15 or 16 to 19
U.S. |
43.7% |
Canada |
53.7% |
Mexico |
36.5% |
Australia |
59.9% |
Japan |
16.5% |
Republic of Korea |
7.5% |
New Zealand |
54.8% |
EU-15 |
28.7% |
Austria |
43.3% |
Denmark |
59.8% |
France |
12.4% |
Germany |
30.4% |
Ireland |
26.6% |
Italy |
11.8% |
Netherlands |
58.6% |
Norway |
43.2% |
Portugal |
17.7% |
Spain |
29.3% |
Sweden |
39.1% |
U.K. |
55.3% |
Percent - Persons ages 20 to 24
U.S. |
74.6% |
Canada |
78.6% |
Mexico |
61.3% |
Australia |
82.1% |
Japan |
69.6% |
Republic of Korea |
54.6% |
New Zealand |
76.1% |
EU-15 |
65.5% |
Austria |
74.5% |
Denmark |
79.4% |
France |
54.4% |
Germany |
70.8% |
Ireland |
74.4% |
Italy |
51.6% |
Netherlands |
80.1% |
Norway |
74.6% |
Portugal |
63.1% |
Spain |
67.9% |
Sweden |
71.2% |
U.K. |
76.0% |
Chart 2.5 Labor force participation rates for older workers, 2006
Percent - Persons ages 55 to 64
U.S. |
63.7% |
Canada |
58.7% |
Mexico |
55.9% |
Australia |
57.5% |
Japan |
67.3% |
Republic of Korea |
60.7% |
New Zealand |
71.8% |
EU-15 |
48.8% |
Austria |
36.8% |
Denmark |
63.2% |
France |
43.6% |
Germany |
55.3% |
Ireland |
54.7% |
Italy |
33.4% |
Netherlands |
49.1% |
Norway |
68.2% |
Portugal |
53.4% |
Spain |
46.8% |
Sweden |
73.0% |
U.K. |
59.1% |
Percent - Persons ages 65 and over
U.S. |
15.4% |
Canada |
8.2% |
Mexico |
29.0% |
Australia |
7.9% |
Japan |
19.8% |
Republic of Korea |
30.5% |
New Zealand |
12.7% |
EU-15 |
4.0% |
Austria |
3.6% |
Denmark |
5.2% |
France |
1.1% |
Germany |
3.5% |
Ireland |
8.7% |
Italy |
3.3% |
Netherlands |
4.6% |
Norway |
14.0% |
Portugal |
18.0% |
Spain |
2.1% |
Sweden |
10.3% |
U.K. |
6.9% |
Chart 2.6 Employment as a percent of the working-age population, 2006
Percent
U.S. |
63.1% |
Canada |
63.6% |
Mexico |
57.5% |
Australia |
62.5% |
Japan |
57.5% |
Republic of Korea |
58.9% |
New Zealand |
65.0% |
Singapore |
61.8% |
EU-15 |
51.7% |
Austria |
56.2% |
Denmark |
62.8% |
France |
50.9% |
Germany |
52.2% |
Ireland |
59.8% |
Italy |
45.5% |
Netherlands |
61.0% |
Norway |
62.6% |
Portugal |
57.5% |
Spain |
52.3% |
Sweden |
60.4% |
U.K. |
60.0% |
Chart 2.7 Average annual growth rates for employment, 1996-2006
Percent
U.S. |
1.3% |
Canada |
2.1% |
Mexico |
2.3% |
Australia |
2.0% |
Japan |
minus 0.2% |
Republic of Korea |
1.1% |
New Zealand |
1.9% |
Singapore |
2.2% |
EU-15 |
1.3% |
Austria |
0.6% |
Denmark |
0.6% |
France |
1.1% |
Germany |
0.4% |
Ireland |
4.3% |
Italy |
1.2% |
Netherlands |
1.4% |
Norway |
1.1% |
Portugal |
1.5% |
Spain |
4.4% |
Sweden |
1.0% |
U.K. |
1.1% |
Chart 2.8 Average annual growth rates for full-time and part-time employment, 1996 - 2006
Blue equals Full-time
Yellow Part-time
Percent
U.S. |
blue equals 1.5% | yellow equals 0.3% |
Canada |
blue equals 2.2% | yellow equals 1.5% |
Mexico |
blue equals 2.4% | yellow equals 2.5% |
Australia |
blue equals 1.7% | yellow equals 2.7% |
Japan |
blue equals minus 0.6% | yellow equals 0.9% |
Republic of Korea |
blue equals 0.5% | yellow equals 8.4% |
New Zealand |
blue equals 1.9% | yellow equals 1.6% |
EU-15 |
blue equals 0.7% | yellow equals 2.9% |
Austria |
blue equals minus 0.4% | yellow equals 5.1% |
Denmark |
blue equals 0.4% | yellow equals 1.4% |
France |
blue equals 1.0% | yellow equals 0.4% |
Germany |
blue equals minus 0.5% | yellow equals 4.4% |
Ireland |
blue equals 2.5% | yellow equals 6.7% |
Italy |
blue equals 0.6% | yellow equals 4.7% |
Netherlands |
blue equals 0.9% | yellow equals 3.8% |
Norway |
blue equals 1.1% | yellow equals 0.8% |
Portugal |
blue equals 1.5% | yellow equals 1.5% |
Spain |
blue equals 3.5% | yellow equals 8.1% |
Sweden |
blue equals 1.1% | yellow equals 0.0% |
U.K. |
blue equals 0.4% | yellow equals 0.7% |
Chart 2.9 Annual hours worked per employed person, 1996
and 2006
Blue equals 1996
Yellow equals 2006
Hours
U.S. | blue equals 1840 | yellow equals 1804 |
Canada | blue equals 1784 | yellow equals 1738 |
Mexico | blue equals 1902 | yellow equals 1883 |
Australia | blue equals 1777 | yellow equals 1714 |
Japan | blue equals 1892 | yellow equals 1784 |
Republic of Korea | blue equals 2648 | yellow equals 2305 |
New Zealand | blue equals 1833 | yellow equals 1787 |
Austria | blue equals 1664 | yellow equals 1655 |
Denmark | blue equals 1495 | yellow equals 1577 |
France | blue equals 1655 | yellow equals 1564 |
Germany | blue equals 1518 | yellow equals 1436 |
Ireland | blue equals 1882 | yellow equals 1640 |
Italy | blue equals 1873 | yellow equals 1800 |
Netherlands | blue equals 1421 | yellow equals 1391 |
Norway | blue equals 1483 | yellow equals 1407 |
Portugal | blue equals 1848 | yellow equals 1758 |
Spain | blue equals 1811 | yellow equals 1764 |
Sweden | blue equals 1635 | yellow equals 1583 |
U.K. | blue equals 1742 | yellow equals 1669 |
Chart 2.10 Unemployment rates, 2006
Percent
U.S. |
4.6% |
Canada |
5.5% |
Mexico |
3.6% |
Australia |
4.8% |
Japan |
4.2% |
Republic of Korea |
3.5% |
New Zealand |
3.8% |
Singapore |
4.8% |
EU-15 |
7.4% |
Austria |
4.7% |
Denmark |
3.9% |
France |
9.7% |
Germany |
10.4% |
Ireland |
4.4% |
Italy |
6.9% |
Netherlands |
4.4% |
Norway |
3.5% |
Portugal |
7.7% |
Spain |
8.5% |
Sweden |
7.0% |
U.K. |
5.5% |
Chart 2.11 Unemployment rates for youth, 2006
Blue equals persons ages 15 or 16 to 19
Yellow equals persons ages
20 - 24
Percent
U.S. | blue equals 15.4% | yellow equals 8.2% |
Canada | blue equals 14.8% | yellow equals 8.2% |
Mexico | blue equals 6.8% | yellow equals 5.7% |
Australia | blue equals 14.7% | yellow equals 6.7% |
Japan | blue equals 9.6% | yellow equals 7.8% |
Republic of Korea | blue equals 10.7% | yellow equals 9.9% |
New Zealand | blue equals 13.7% | yellow equals 6.4% |
Singapore | blue equals 20.0% | yellow equals 6.3% |
EU-15 | blue equals 19.7% | yellow equals 14.6% |
Austria | blue equals 11.9% | yellow equals 7.5% |
Denmark | blue equals 10.4% | yellow equals 5.3% |
France | blue equals 30.9% | yellow equals 22.1% |
Germany | blue equals 14.2% | yellow equals 13.7% |
Ireland | blue equals 11.8% | yellow equals 7.3% |
Italy | blue equals 33.2% | yellow equals 19.6% |
Netherlands | blue equals 10.1% | yellow equals 5.2% |
Norway | blue equals 11.6% | yellow equals 6.8% |
Portugal | blue equals 25.5% | yellow equals 14.1% |
Spain | blue equals 29.0% | yellow equals 14.8% |
Sweden | blue equals 31.1% | yellow equals 16.8% |
U.K. | blue equals 20.3% | yellow equals 10.5% |
Chart 2.12 Ratio of youth to adult unemployment rates, 2006
Ratio
U.S. |
2.9 |
Canada |
2.3 |
Mexico |
2.6 |
Australia |
2.8 |
Japan |
2.1 |
Republic of Korea |
3.5 |
New Zealand |
3.9 |
Singapore |
2.0 |
EU-15 |
2.4 |
Austria |
2.2 |
Denmark |
2.3 |
France |
3.0 |
Germany |
1.4 |
Ireland |
2.3 |
Italy |
3.9 |
Netherlands |
1.9 |
Norway |
3.3 |
Portugal |
2.4 |
Spain |
2.5 |
Sweden |
4.3 |
U.K. |
3.7 |
Chart 2.13 Persons unemployed one year or
longer, 2006
as a percent of total unemployment
Percent
U.S. |
10.0% |
Canada |
8.7% |
Mexico |
2.5% |
Australia |
17.8% |
Japan |
33.0% |
Republic of Korea |
1.1% |
New Zealand |
7.1% |
EU-15 |
44.2% |
Austria |
27.3% |
Denmark |
20.4% |
France |
44.0% |
Germany |
57.2% |
Ireland |
34.3% |
Italy |
52.9% |
Netherlands |
45.2% |
Norway |
14.1% |
Portugal |
51.8% |
Spain |
29.5% |
Sweden |
14.2% |
U.K. |
22.1% |
Blue equals men
Yellow equals women
Ratio
U.S. | blue equals 3.2 | yellow equals 5.0 |
Canada | blue equals 2.0 | yellow equals 2.3 |
Mexico | blue equals 0.6 | yellow equals 0.7 |
Australia | blue equals 2.6 | yellow equals 2.7 |
Japan | blue equals 2.6 | yellow equals 1.4 |
Republic of Korea | blue equals 1.5 | yellow equals 0.8 |
New Zealand | blue equals 1.7 | yellow equals 2.1 |
Austria | blue equals 3.2 | yellow equals 1.6 |
Denmark | blue equals 1.6 | yellow equals 2.2 |
France | blue equals 1.8 | yellow equals 2.1 |
Germany | blue equals 4.6 | yellow equals 3.1 |
Ireland | blue equals 3.3 | yellow equals 3.2 |
Italy | blue equals 1.4 | yellow equals 1.6 |
Netherlands | blue equals 1.7 | yellow equals 2.4 |
Norway | blue equals 3.6 | yellow equals 2.8 |
Portugal | blue equals 1.3 | yellow equals 1.6 |
Spain | blue equals 1.2 | yellow equals 2.1 |
Sweden | blue equals 1.7 | yellow equals 2.2 |
U.K. | blue equals 3.3 | yellow equals 3.2 |
Red equals below upper secondary
Yellow equals upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary
Blue equals tertiary
Percent
U.S. | blue equals 39% | yellow equals 49% | red equals 12% |
Canada | blue equals 46% | yellow equals 39% | red equals 15% |
Mexico | blue equals 15% | yellow equals 6% | red equals 79% |
Australia | blue equals 32% | yellow equals 33% | red equals 35% |
Japan | blue equals 40% | yellow equals 44% | red equals 16% |
Republic of Korea | blue equals 32% | yellow equals 44% | red equals 24% |
New Zealand | blue equals 27% | yellow equals 52% | red equals 21% |
Austria | blue equals 18% | yellow equals 63% | red equals 19% |
Denmark | blue equals 34% | yellow equals 49% | red equals 17% |
France | blue equals 25% | yellow equals 41% | red equals 34% |
Germany | blue equals 25% | yellow equals 58% | red equals 17% |
Ireland | blue equals 29% | yellow equals 36% | red equals 35% |
Italy | blue equals 12% | yellow equals 39% | red equals 49% |
Netherlands | blue equals 30% | yellow equals 42% | red equals 28% |
Norway | blue equals 33% | yellow equals 45% | red equals 22% |
Portugal | blue equals 13% | yellow equals 13% | red equals 74% |
Spain | blue equals 28% | yellow equals 21% | red equals 51% |
Sweden | blue equals 30% | yellow equals 54% | red equals 16% |
U.K. | blue equals 30% | yellow equals 56% | red equals 14% |