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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Employment Level - Women (LNS12000002) from Jan 1948 to Jun 2025 about females, 16 years +, household survey, employment, and USA.

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.

Egypt Labour Force: Female data was reported at 6,569.000 Person th in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,786.000 Person th for Sep 2024. Egypt Labour Force: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 5,733.500 Person th from Mar 2003 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 88 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,765.000 Person th in Sep 2017 and a record low of 3,943.000 Person th in Jun 2020. Egypt Labour Force: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.G010: Labour Force.

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

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Indonesia was reported at 39.36 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Indonesia - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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.

United Kingdom UK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 46.528 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.515 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 45.614 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.528 % in 2017 and a record low of 43.192 % in 1990. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Germany DE: (DC)Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data was reported at 47.110 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.570 % for 2016. Germany DE: (DC)Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 39.380 % from Dec 1983 (Median) to 2017, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 47.990 % in 2013 and a record low of 28.780 % in 1986. Germany DE: (DC)Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Part time employment refers to regular employment in which working time is substantially less than normal. Definitions of part time employment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: More and more women are working part-time and one of the concern is that part time work does not provide the stability that full time work does.

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 May 2025 about 25 to 54 years, working-age, females, population, and USA.

Jordan JO: Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data was reported at 8.100 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.890 % for 2022. Jordan JO: Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 15.180 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2023, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.610 % in 2020 and a record low of 8.100 % in 2023. Jordan JO: Part Time Employment: Female: % of Total Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Part time employment refers to regular employment in which working time is substantially less than normal. Definitions of part time employment differ by country.;International Labour Organization. “Wages and Working Time Statistics database (COND)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;Relevance to gender indicator: More and more women are working part-time and one of the concern is that part time work does not provide the stability that full time work does.

Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in European Union was reported at 12.69 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. European Union - Employees, industry, female (% of female employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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

Hong Kong HK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 48.985 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 48.817 % for 2016. Hong Kong HK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 43.964 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.985 % in 2017 and a record low of 36.956 % in 1990. Hong Kong HK: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Quarterly and historical data on the employment rates of men and women living with and without dependent children in the UK.