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.

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

In 2023, about 75.54 million women were employed in the United States. This is an increase from the previous year, when 74.09 million women were employed, and just about a return to pre-pandemic levels.

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 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 Q1 2025 about 25 to 54 years, employment-population ratio, females, employment, population, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Employment-Population Ratio - Women (LNS12300002) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about employment-population ratio, females, 16 years +, household survey, employment, population, and USA.

The average for 2023 based on 178 countries was 51.07 percent. The highest value was in the Solomon Islands: 82.73 percent and the lowest value was in Afghanistan: 4.83 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.

Cyprus CY: Share of Women Employed in the Nonagricultural Sector: % of Total Nonagricultural Employment data was reported at 51.900 % in 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 51.200 % for 2012. Cyprus CY: Share of Women Employed in the Nonagricultural Sector: % of Total Nonagricultural Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 48.200 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2013, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.900 % in 2013 and a record low of 41.300 % in 1995. Cyprus CY: Share of Women Employed in the Nonagricultural Sector: % of Total Nonagricultural Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cyprus – Table CY.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Share of women in wage employment in the nonagricultural sector is the share of female workers in wage employment in the nonagricultural sector (industry and services), expressed as a percentage of total employment in the nonagricultural sector. Industry includes mining and quarrying (including oil production), manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, and water, corresponding to divisions 2-5 (ISIC revision 2) or tabulation categories C-F (ISIC revision 3). Services include wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services-corresponding to divisions 6-9 (ISIC revision 2) or tabulation categories G-Q (ISIC revision 3).; ; International Labour Organization.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Women’s share in paid employment in the nonagricultural sector has risen marginally in some regions but remains less than 20 percent in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Women are also clearly segregated in sectors that are generally known to be lower paid. And in the sectors where women dominate, such as health care, women rarely hold upper-level management jobs.

Proportion of women and men employed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) broad occupational categories, current year.

Employment in services, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in France was reported at 88.61 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. France - Employees, services, female (% of female employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Employment Level - Married Women (LNS12000315) from Jan 1955 to May 2025 about married, females, 16 years +, household survey, employment, and USA.

Portugal Employment Rate: Female data was reported at 61.500 % in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 61.500 % for Feb 2025. Portugal Employment Rate: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 52.200 % from Feb 1998 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 326 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.600 % in Dec 2024 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.G011: Labour Force Survey: Employment Rate: by Age and Sex.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Female: From 25 to 54 Years for United States (LFWA25FEUSM647S) from Jan 1977 to Apr 2025 about 25 to 54 years, working-age, females, population, and USA.

Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Trinidad and Tobago was reported at 13.12 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Trinidad and Tobago - Employees, industry, female (% of female employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Germany - Employment rate: Females was 74.50% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Employment rate: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, Germany - Employment rate: Females reached a record high of 75.50% in December of 2019 and a record low of 67.80% in December of 2009.

Women and Men in Spain: Female part time work according to period. Percentage of all women employed. Spain, UE-27 and UE-28. Annual. National. Nota: UE27_2020: 27 países (desde 2020). UE-28: 28 países (2013-2020).

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 May 2025 about 25 to 54 years, females, participation, labor force, labor, rate, and USA.

Proportion of women and men employed in management occupations by province, based on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) major groups, current year.