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

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.

This graph shows the civilian female labor force in the United States from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, the number of women who had jobs or were seeking employment amounted to almost 78.24 million.

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 female labor force participation rate in India increased by *** percentage points (*************) in 2024. While the growth is slowing down, with 32.8 percent, the rate is at its peak in the observed period. Female labor force participation is the share of women over 15 years who are economically active. For example, all women providing labor in a specific period for the production of goods and services.

This graph shows the unadjusted female labor force participation rate in the United States from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, about 57.3 percent of the female labor force participated in the job market.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Women (LNS11300026) from Jan 1948 to Aug 2025 about 20 years +, females, participation, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Brazil: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 53.03 percent, a decline from 53.21 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Brazil from 1990 to 2024 is 52.22 percent. The minimum value, 44.42 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 56.86 percent was recorded in 2005.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Brazil was reported at 53.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

India: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 32.8 percent, an increase from 31.24 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1990 to 2024 is 30.43 percent. The minimum value, 26 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 34.85 percent was recorded in 2005.

Bangladesh: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 44.15 percent, an increase from 43.71 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Bangladesh from 1990 to 2024 is 32.27 percent. The minimum value, 24.08 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 44.15 percent was recorded in 2024.

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in France was reported at 48.51 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. France - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

South Korea: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 56.02 percent, a decline from 56.04 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2024 is 50.63 percent. The minimum value, 47.12 percent, was reached in 1998 while the maximum of 56.04 percent was recorded in 2023.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Hong Kong was reported at 52.24 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Hong Kong - Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

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

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tanzania was reported at 80.16 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tanzania - Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 59.56 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Egypt: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 15.07 percent, a decline from 15.3 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Egypt from 1990 to 2024 is 20.46 percent. The minimum value, 14.61 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 23.33 percent was recorded in 2007.

In 2023, there were estimated to be approximately *** billion people employed worldwide, compared to **** billion people in 1991 - an increase of over one billion people. Of these employed people in 2023, approximately *** billion were men, and *** billion were female.

Since 1990 in the U.S., there has always been more men than women working at full-time status. In 2024, there were 74.86 million men working full-time compared to 58.51 million women. For part-time workers, this trend is flipped, there are more women working part-time than there are men.