The United States averaged an unemployment rate of 3.6% in 2023, affecting about 6.0 million people aged 16 and over. Global job vacancies were estimated at around 50 million unfilled positions in 2023, and the gaps show up differently by region and industry. The employment picture depends on who is hired, which wages move, and where job openings remain hardest to fill.
Key Takeaways
- In the US, the employment-population ratio was 60.2% in December 2023 for ages 16+
- US job openings totaled 8.8 million in November 2023, down from peaks
- US labor force participation rate was 62.5% in December 2023 for civilian noninstitutional population 16+
- In the United States, the overall unemployment rate averaged 3.6% in 2023, affecting approximately 6.0 million people aged 16 and over
- The average hourly wage for all private nonfarm payrolls in the US was $34.28 in December 2023, up 4.1% year-over-year
Job statistics show steady hiring momentum and improved employment prospects for many workers this year.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Rates30 stats
01
In the US, the employment-population ratio was 60.2% in December 2023 for ages 16+
02
Globally, employment rate for prime-age workers (25-54) was 73.5% in 2023 per ILO
03
EU employment rate reached 75.4% in 2023 for ages 20-64
04
Canada's employment rate fell to 61.6% in December 2023
05
Australia's employment rate for 15+ was 64.2% in December 2023
06
Japan's employment rate for 15-64 was 79.4% in 2023, highest among OECD
07
UK employment rate was 74.6% for ages 16-64 in late 2023
08
India's employment rate in urban areas was 46.2% in Q4 2023
09
Brazil's employment rate rose to 58.0% in Q4 2023
10
South Africa's employment rate was 41.7% in Q4 2023
11
Germany's employment rate for 15-64 was 76.8% in 2023
12
France's employment rate for 15-64 was 69.4% in 2023
13
Mexico's employment rate was 60.1% in Q4 2023
14
South Korea's employment rate for 15-64 was 69.2% in 2023
15
Spain's employment rate improved to 62.3% in Q4 2023 for 16-64
16
Italy's employment rate was 62.8% for 20-64 in 2023
17
US prime-age employment rate (25-54) hit 83.4% in 2023 peak
18
China's employment rate for urban workforce was 57.4% in 2023
19
Sweden's employment rate was 77.5% for ages 20-64 in 2023
20
US employment in health care added 670,000 jobs in 2023
21
Global services employment was 50% of total jobs in 2023
22
Retail trade employment in Canada declined 0.5% in 2023
23
Women’s employment rate in Japan rose to 53.3% in 2023
24
Self-employment in India was 57.3% of workforce in 2023
25
Public sector employment in UK was 17.6% of total in 2023
26
Informal employment in Brazil was 39% in 2023
27
Part-time employment in Netherlands was 37% of workforce in 2023
28
Gig economy workers in US numbered 59 million in 2023 per Upwork
29
Remote work employment share in EU was 12% in 2023
30
Youth employment in South Africa was 12.5% rate in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Rates Interpretation
While Japan leads the OECD and the US prime-age workforce is humming, the global jobs landscape is a bewildering patchwork of robust services, stubborn informality, and still too many gaps—proving that gainful employment remains an unevenly distributed luxury.
02 · Category
Job Openings30 stats
01
US job openings totaled 8.8 million in November 2023, down from peaks
02
Global job vacancies estimated at 50 million unfilled positions in 2023 by ManpowerGroup
03
EU job vacancy rate was 2.9% in Q3 2023 across economy
04
Canada's job vacancies fell to 617,000 in Q4 2023
05
Australia's job vacancies were 447,000 in November 2023
06
Japan's job openings-to-applicants ratio was 1.31 in December 2023
07
UK job vacancies stood at 888,000 in three months to November 2023
08
India's job openings grew 20% in IT sector in 2023 per Naukri.com
09
Brazil's formal job openings increased by 1.2 million in 2023
10
South Africa's job vacancies were 229,700 in Q3 2023
11
Germany's job vacancies totaled 700,000 in late 2023
12
France's job vacancy rate was 3.2% in 2023 services sector
13
Mexico's job openings rose 15% in manufacturing Q4 2023
14
South Korea's job openings were 1.2 million in 2023 average
15
Spain's job vacancies hit 711,000 in Q3 2023
16
Italy's job vacancy rate was 2.7% in 2023
17
US quits rate was 2.3% in November 2023 per JOLTS
18
China's job openings in tech sector surged 30% in 2023
19
Sweden's job vacancies were 110,000 in Q4 2023
20
Job openings in US professional services hit 2.1 million November 2023
21
Healthcare vacancies globally projected 10 million by 2030 but 2023 at 4M
22
Manufacturing job openings in EU were 1.2 million in 2023
23
IT job vacancies in Canada reached 50,000 in Q4 2023
24
Retail vacancies in Australia fell 10% to 80,000 in 2023
25
Effective job-to-applicant ratio in Japan was 1.26 in 2023 average
26
Engineering vacancies in UK numbered 45,000 in late 2023
27
E-commerce job openings in India surged 25% to 200,000 in 2023
28
Tourism vacancies in Brazil were 300,000 unfilled 2023
29
Mining vacancies in South Africa hit 15,000 in 2023
30
Automotive sector openings in Germany 120,000 in 2023
Interpretation
Job Openings Interpretation
The global job market seems like a frantic game of musical chairs where everyone’s running, but half the chairs are labeled 'Healthcare' or 'Tech' and nobody can quite agree on the tune.
03 · Category
Labor Participation30 stats
01
US labor force participation rate was 62.5% in December 2023 for civilian noninstitutional population 16+
02
Global labor force participation rate was 60.1% in 2023 per World Bank/ILO
03
EU labor force participation rate for 15-74 was 65.3% in 2023
04
Canada's participation rate was 65.0% in December 2023
05
Australia's participation rate reached 66.8% in December 2023
06
Japan's participation rate for 15+ was 62.3% in 2023, boosted by women
07
UK's participation rate was 62.5% for 16-64 in late 2023
08
India's LFPR was 57.9% in urban areas Q4 2023
09
Brazil's LFPR was 62.5% in Q4 2023
10
South Africa's LFPR was 60.9% in Q4 2023 excluding discouraged
11
Germany's LFPR for 15-64 was 78.5% in 2023
12
France's LFPR for 15-64 was 73.8% in 2023
13
Mexico's LFPR was 61.3% in Q4 2023
14
South Korea's LFPR for 15-64 was 70.1% in 2023
15
Spain's LFPR rose to 64.6% in Q4 2023
16
Italy's LFPR for 15-64 was 65.2% in 2023
17
US prime-age male LFPR was 89.4% in 2023
18
China's urban LFPR was 66.1% in 2023
19
Sweden's LFPR was 82.2% for 20-64 in 2023
20
Prime-age LFPR in US men recovered to 89.2% in 2023
21
Female LFPR globally rose to 49.5% in 2023 ILO data
22
Older worker LFPR in EU 15-74 was 26.5% in 2023
23
Indigenous LFPR in Canada was 63.2% in 2023
24
Disability-adjusted LFPR Australia 54.1% December 2023
25
Rural LFPR Japan 55% vs urban 60% in 2023
26
NEET rate UK youth was 11.6% in 2023, inverse participation
27
Rural female LFPR India 38.1% Q4 2023
28
Urban LFPR Brazil 64.2% Q4 2023
29
Discouraged workers South Africa 2.5 million lowered LFPR 2023
30
Immigrant LFPR Germany 72% in 2023
Interpretation
Labor Participation Interpretation
While the global workforce shows a generally engaged majority, the real story is in the uneven details—from Germany’s impressive 78.5% participation and Japan’s rising female workforce to the stark divides of Italy’s north-south gap and India’s low rural female involvement, proving that a single headline rate often masks a complex tapestry of who is actually at work.
More related reading
04 · Category
Unemployment Rates30 stats
01
In the United States, the overall unemployment rate averaged 3.6% in 2023, affecting approximately 6.0 million people aged 16 and over
02
Globally, the unemployment rate stood at 4.9% in 2023, impacting 189 million people worldwide according to the International Labour Organization
03
In the Euro Area, the unemployment rate was 6.1% in December 2023, with youth unemployment at 14.5%
04
Canada's unemployment rate reached 5.8% in December 2023, up from 5.6% in November, driven by seasonal factors
05
Australia's unemployment rate was 4.0% in December 2023, with 557,000 people unemployed
06
In Japan, the unemployment rate for 2023 averaged 2.6%, one of the lowest among developed nations
07
India's urban unemployment rate was 6.6% in Q4 2023, higher for females at 8.5%
08
The UK's unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in the three months to November 2023
09
Brazil's unemployment rate fell to 7.6% in Q4 2023, with 8.3 million unemployed
10
South Africa's unemployment rate was 32.1% in Q4 2023, affecting 7.9 million working-age people
11
Germany's unemployment rate was 5.9% in December 2023, up slightly from previous months
12
France's unemployment rate remained at 7.4% in Q4 2023, per INSEE estimates
13
Mexico's unemployment rate was 2.6% in Q4 2023, but underemployment affected 28.3%
14
South Korea's unemployment rate was 3.4% in 2023, with youth rate at 6.8%
15
Spain's unemployment rate dropped to 11.8% in Q4 2023, still highest in EU
16
Italy's unemployment rate was 7.2% in December 2023, with southern regions higher
17
The US long-term unemployment rate (27+ weeks) was 1.2 million in 2023 average
18
China's urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2% in 2023, per official data
19
Sweden's unemployment rate was 8.1% in December 2023, affected by immigration
20
Argentina's unemployment rate was 6.9% in Q4 2023 amid economic crisis
21
In the US, employment in leisure and hospitality grew by 2.3% in 2023, adding 178,000 jobs
22
Worldwide, agriculture employed 24% of the workforce in 2023, per FAO/ILO
23
Eurozone services sector unemployment was 6.5% in late 2023
24
US Black unemployment rate averaged 5.8% in 2023
25
Youth unemployment in OECD countries averaged 10.5% in 2023
26
Female unemployment in MENA region was 17.2% in 2023
27
Construction unemployment in US was 4.5% December 2023
28
Rural India unemployment was 2.6% in Q4 2023, lower than urban
29
Long-term unemployment in EU was 33.6% of total in 2023
30
Veteran unemployment in US was 3.1% in 2023 annual average
Interpretation
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
While the world economy may be a chorus of nearly full employment for many, the persistent, painful notes of youth disenfranchisement, systemic inequalities, and regional crises reveal that a headline number is often a harmony masking a great many dissonant individual struggles.
05 · Category
Wage Statistics30 stats
01
The average hourly wage for all private nonfarm payrolls in the US was $34.28in December 2023, up 4.1% year-over-year
02
Global average monthly wage was $1,480in 2023 per ILO, varying widely by region
03
In the EU, average gross hourly earnings were €28.50 in 2022 data extended to 2023
04
Canada's average hourly wage rose to $35.44in December 2023
05
Australia's average weekly earnings for full-time adults were AU$1,975.80in August 2023
06
Japan's average monthly cash earnings increased 2.0% in 2023 to ¥341,793
07
UK median weekly earnings for full-time employees were £728 in April 2023
08
India's average monthly per capita net national income was ₹10,925 in 2023-24 estimates
09
Brazil's average monthly real wage was BRL 2,979 in 2023
10
South Africa's average monthly earnings were ZAR 27,702 in Q3 2023
11
Germany's median gross hourly wage was €21.70 in 2022, similar in 2023
12
France's average gross monthly wage was €3,014 in 2023 private sector
13
Mexico's average daily wage was MXN 521.7 in Q4 2023
14
South Korea's average monthly wage was KRW 3,956,619 in 2023
15
Spain's average annual gross salary was €27,273 in 2023
16
Italy's average annual net salary was €28,000 in 2023 estimates
17
US real median weekly earnings grew 0.8% in 2023 adjusted for inflation
18
China's average urban wage rose 5.8% to RMB 108,132 annually in 2023
19
Sweden's average monthly salary was SEK 39,900 in 2023
20
US software developers median wage was $130,160in 2023
21
Global CEO pay ratio to average worker was 272:1 in 2023 per AFL-CIO
22
Minimum wage in EU varied from €1,320/month in Bulgaria to €2,568 in Luxembourg 2023
23
Nurses average annual salary in Canada was CAD 80,195 in 2023
24
Bonus pay in Japan averaged 1.8 months salary in 2023
25
Gender pay gap in UK was 14.3% median hourly in 2023
26
Construction wages in India rose 7% to INR 25,000/month average 2023
27
Real wage growth in Brazil was 2.9% in 2023 after inflation
28
Executives in South Africa earned ZAR 1.2 million average 2023
29
Wage growth in Germany was 4.0% nominally in 2023
30
SMIC minimum wage in France rose to €11.65/hour in 2023
Interpretation
Wage Statistics Interpretation
While the global worker's pay stub tells a story of modest gains, with regional tales ranging from impressive to grim, the real plot twist is found in the footnotes, where the CEO's bonus alone could fund a small village's payroll.
report visual · Comparison
Employment rates (selected countries/regions, 2023)
Employment rates vary widely across regions and age groups.
Japan (15-64)79.4%
Germany (15-64)76.8%
EU (20-64)75.4%
UK (16-64)74.6%
India (urban)46.2%
South Africa41.7%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Job Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/job-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Job Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/job-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Job Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/job-statistics.
Sources & references
64 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level