Since 1990, the employment rate of women in the United States has stayed more or less steady, reaching a peak of 57.5 percent in 2000. In 1990, the female employment rate was 54.3 percent, and in 2024, the employment rate was 55.2. Women in the workforce There have historically been fewer women than men in the workforce. Additionally, women face many hurdles to equal treatment when they are employed, such as wage discrepancies, sexual harassment, and being expected to carry out the majority of household and family related tasks even while working full-time. Women have historically been the primary caregivers and homemakers through many cultures worldwide. Despite this, the number of women joining the workforce has increased globally. Women in history faced the additional barrier of not being able to attend university, which barred them from gaining an education and access to professional job. However, as our cultures have modernized, women have been granted equal access to university in many societies. In 2014 in the United States, the number of university degrees awarded to women exceeded that of men for the first time. In 2021, 39.1 percent of women had completed at least four years of university compared to 36.6 percent of men. Despite this, the unemployment rate of women in the United States has fluctuated significantly since 1990. In 2021, Nebraska was the state with the highest percentage of women participating in the civilian labor force, second to the District of Columbia. The wage gap Today, the wage gap is still a problem for women, although improvements have been made. There is no state in the U.S. where women earn more than men, but women in Vermont had the smallest wage gap to men in 2021. Additionally, there are no occupations in which women out-earn men, even in occupations that traditionally employ more women. A more detailed look at wage inequality in the United States can be found here.

The Bahamas had the highest female employment-to-population ratio in the world in 2023 at 90 percent of the women in working age in some form of employment. Iceland had the second highest female employment rate of the countries, reaching 81 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Female: From 25 to 54 Years for United States (LREM25FEUSQ156S) from Q1 1977 to Q2 2025 about 25 to 54 years, employment-population ratio, females, population, employment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Women (LNS11300002) from Jan 1948 to Sep 2025 about females, participation, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

In 2024, the employment rate for women in Japan stood at **** percent, up from about **** percent in the previous year. The male employment rate was **** percent in 2024.Increasing number of working womenAs Japan is facing severe demographic challenges, the government has tried for many years to increase the number of women in the workforce. In 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared his commitment to creating "a society in which women shine", calling it “a matter of the greatest urgency”. Since then, the number of employed women noticeably increased, exceeding ** million in 2024. Attitudes slow to changeDespite these advances, Japanese corporate culture as well as gender attitudes are only slowly changing. While the number of working women has certainly increased, some voices criticize that Japan still lags behind when it comes to women in leadership positions. This criticism is also extended to political leadership positions, as women in the House of Representatives made up around ** percent of diet members in 2023.

The average for 2024 based on 176 countries was 51.13 percent. The highest value was in Madagascar: 82.56 percent and the lowest value was in Yemen: 4.91 percent. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The lowest female employment rate worldwide was found in Iraq, reaching only ***** percent. The Palestinian Territories and Sudan followed behind. A high number of the countries on the list are predominantly Muslim. Bahamas had the highest female employment rate in the world.

France - Employment rate: Females was 72.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Employment rate: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, France - Employment rate: Females reached a record high of 72.20% in December of 2024 and a record low of 64.80% in December of 2005.

Portugal Employment Rate: Female data was reported at 62.500 % in Oct 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.800 % for Sep 2025. Portugal Employment Rate: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 50.600 % from Feb 1998 (Median) to Oct 2025, with 333 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.900 % in Aug 2025 and a record low of 48.800 % in Mar 2013. Portugal Employment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Portugal. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.G: Labour Force Survey: Employment Rate: by Age and Sex.

Since 2000, employment-to-population ratio worldwide was constantly significantly higher among men than among women. Whereas more than ********** of men were estimated to be employed worldwide in 2025, less than **** of women were the same. Moreover, employment rates among both genders fell over the time period, with the decrease being larger among men.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, White Women (LNS11300029) from Jan 1954 to Sep 2025 about 20 years +, white, females, participation, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Norway Employment Rate: Female data was reported at 66.300 % in Oct 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.500 % for Sep 2025. Norway Employment Rate: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 65.700 % from Jan 2009 (Median) to Oct 2025, with 202 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.300 % in Mar 2009 and a record low of 64.400 % in Jan 2021. Norway Employment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Norway. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.G: Employment Rate: Labor Force Survey.

Sweden - Employment rate: Females was 78.30% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Employment rate: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Employment rate: Females reached a record high of 80.20% in December of 2018 and a record low of 75.00% in December of 2010.

Sweden: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 61.68 percent, a decline from 61.76 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Sweden from 1990 to 2024 is 59.88 percent. The minimum value, 57.36 percent, was reached in 1998 while the maximum of 62.82 percent was recorded in 1990.

Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Female: Employment Rate data was reported at 60.500 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 60.200 % for 2016. Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Female: Employment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 62.750 % from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2017, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63.900 % in 2008 and a record low of 60.200 % in 2016. Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Female: Employment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.G010: Labour Force: Annual. Persons in working ages are men 16–59 years old and women aged 16–54 years old inclusively.

Venezuela Labour Force: Female: Employment Rate data was reported at 91.700 % in Apr 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 92.490 % for Mar 2016. Venezuela Labour Force: Female: Employment Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 89.880 % from Jan 1999 (Median) to Apr 2016, with 206 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.670 % in Dec 2012 and a record low of 76.419 % in Jan 2004. Venezuela Labour Force: Female: Employment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.G003: Labour Force.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Female: From 25 to 54 Years for United States (LRAC25FEUSM156S) from Jan 1955 to Aug 2025 about 25 to 54 years, females, participation, labor force, labor, rate, and USA.

Poland - Employment rate: Females was 65.20% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poland - Employment rate: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, Poland - Employment rate: Females reached a record high of 65.20% in December of 2020 and a record low of 55.60% in December of 2010.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Female: From 15 to 64 Years for Germany (LREM64FEDEQ156S) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about employment-population ratio, 15 to 64 years, females, Germany, population, employment, and rate.

Denmark - Employment rate: Females was 74.30% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - Employment rate: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - Employment rate: Females reached a record high of 74.70% in December of 2019 and a record low of 71.00% in December of 2014.