Job markets are moving, but not in the same direction everywhere. In the UK, unemployment for ages 16 to 64 sits at 4.2% in July to September 2023, while in Australia unemployment among 25 to 34 year olds is 4.1% in September 2023 and women face very different employment realities elsewhere. This post brings those labour market statistics together so you can see how participation, vacancies, wages, and unemployment line up across countries, roles, and time.
Key Takeaways
- In the US, employment-population ratio for prime-age workers (25-54) was 80.4% in September 2023
- Euro Area employment rate for ages 20-64 reached 75.4% in Q2 2023
- Canada's employment rate was 61.8% in October 2023
- US job openings rate was 4.1% in August 2023
- Euro Area job vacancy rate was 2.8% in Q2 2023
- Canada's quits rate was 2.1% in September 2023
- US labor force participation rate (16+) was 62.8% in September 2023
- Euro Area LFPR for 15-74 was 64.9% in Q2 2023
- Canada's LFPR was 65.8% in October 2023
- In the United States, the unemployment rate for adult men was 3.8% in September 2023
- The youth unemployment rate (15-24 years) in the Euro Area stood at 14.2% in August 2023
- Canada's overall unemployment rate reached 5.5% in October 2023
- In the US, average hourly earnings for private sector rose 4.0% year-over-year in September 2023
- Euro Area hourly labour costs increased by 4.8% in Q2 2023
- Canada's average weekly earnings grew 4.1% in August 2023
Employment stayed high across many countries, while job vacancy rates varied and wages continued to rise in several economies.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Rates30 stats
01
In the US, employment-population ratio for prime-age workers (25-54) was 80.4% in September 2023
02
Euro Area employment rate for ages 20-64 reached 75.4% in Q2 2023
03
Canada's employment rate was 61.8% in October 2023
04
UK employment rate (16-64) was 75.5% in July-September 2023
05
Germany's employment rate for 15-64 was 76.8% in 2022
06
Australia's employment rate for 15-64 was 69.2% in September 2023
07
France's employment rate for 15-64 was 69.4% in Q2 2023
08
Italy's employment rate rose to 61.5% in Q2 2023
09
Japan's employment rate was 61.2% in September 2023
10
South Korea's employment rate for youth was 42.1% in 2023
11
OECD average employment rate (15-64) was 69.1% in 2022
12
Brazil's employment rate was 58.2% in Q3 2023
13
India's employment rate in urban areas was 45.7% in 2022-23
14
Mexico's formal employment rate grew by 2.1% in 2023
15
Spain's employment rate for women was 55.8% in Q2 2023
16
Sweden's employment rate for 20-64 was 77.9% in 2022
17
Netherlands' part-time employment rate was 49.2% for women in 2023
18
Poland's employment rate reached 68.4% in Q2 2023
19
US Hispanic employment-population ratio was 64.7% in September 2023
20
Euro Area self-employment rate was 13.8% in 2022
21
UK disabled employment rate was 52.1% in 2023
22
Australia's over 55 employment rate was 64.3% in 2023
23
France's senior employment rate (55-64) was 55.6% in 2022
24
Italy's temporary employment rate was 16.1% in 2023
25
Japan's female employment rate was 53.3% in 2023
26
OECD youth employment rate averaged 43.2% in 2022
27
Brazil's formal employment share was 42.5% in 2023
28
India's female employment rate was 32.8% in 2022-23
29
Mexico's youth employment rate was 38.4% in 2023
30
Spain's part-time involuntary employment was 10.2% in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Rates Interpretation
Behind a global average that modestly pats itself on the back, the story is really in the starkly different plotlines: from America's prime-age hustle to Europe's part-time puzzle, and from Asia's youth struggling for a foothold to the persistent gaps for women, seniors, and disabled workers that reveal our economies still have a long way to go before claiming true, inclusive health.
02 · Category
Job Market Dynamics30 stats
01
US job openings rate was 4.1% in August 2023
02
Euro Area job vacancy rate was 2.8% in Q2 2023
03
Canada's quits rate was 2.1% in September 2023
04
UK job vacancies numbered 956,000 in July-September 2023
05
Germany's job vacancy rate was 3.4% in June 2023
06
Australia's job vacancies fell to 452,000 in August 2023
07
France's job vacancy rate was 2.7% in Q1 2023
08
Italy's unfilled vacancies were 28.4% of firms in 2023
09
Japan's job-to-applicant ratio was 1.31 in September 2023
10
South Korea's employment turnover rate was 45.2% in 2022
11
OECD job vacancy rate averaged 2.1% in 2022
12
Brazil's job turnover rate was 38.7% in 2023
13
India's job vacancy ratio in manufacturing was 2.3% in 2022
14
Mexico's separation rate was 3.2% monthly in 2023
15
Spain's job vacancy rate in construction was 4.1% in 2023
16
Sweden's hiring rate was 2.5% in Q2 2023
17
Netherlands' job vacancy rate hit 4.4% in Q2 2023
18
Poland's unemployment-vacancy ratio was 0.8 in 2023
19
US layoffs rate was 1.1% in August 2023
20
Euro Area hiring rate was 1.9% in Q1 2023
21
UK employee turnover rate was 25.4% in 2023
22
Australia's hiring rate was 3.1% quarterly in 2023
23
France's sectoral vacancies in health were 5.2% in 2023
24
Italy's job openings in ICT sector grew 15% in 2023
25
Japan's new hires rate was 2.8% monthly in 2023
26
OECD worker flows rate averaged 4.5% in 2022
27
Brazil's formal job creation was 2.4 million in 2023
28
India's apprenticeship vacancies were 1.2 million in 2023
29
Mexico's job openings in services were 1.1 million in 2023
30
Spain's Beveridge curve tightness increased in 2023
Interpretation
Job Market Dynamics Interpretation
While America's workers are actively playing musical chairs with a record number of empty seats, much of Europe is calmly managing a persistent seating shortage, and the OECD stage reveals a global performance where, surprisingly, more people are voluntarily exiting the show than are being ushered out.
03 · Category
Labour Force Participation Rates30 stats
01
US labor force participation rate (16+) was 62.8% in September 2023
02
Euro Area LFPR for 15-74 was 64.9% in Q2 2023
03
Canada's LFPR was 65.8% in October 2023
04
UK LFPR (16-64) was 75.7% in July-September 2023
05
Germany's LFPR (15-64) was 79.2% in 2022
06
Australia's LFPR (15+) was 66.8% in September 2023
07
France's LFPR (15-64) was 74.1% in Q2 2023
08
Italy's LFPR was 57.3% for 15-64 in Q2 2023
09
Japan's LFPR reached 62.3% in September 2023
10
South Korea's LFPR for women was 54.2% in 2023
11
OECD LFPR average (15-64) was 73.2% in 2022
12
Brazil's LFPR was 62.5% in Q3 2023
13
India's LFPR (15+) was 57.9% in 2022-23
14
Mexico's LFPR was 61.4% in Q2 2023
15
Spain's LFPR for 16-74 was 59.8% in Q2 2023
16
Sweden's LFPR (15-74) was 69.8% in 2022
17
Netherlands' LFPR was 69.1% in Q2 2023
18
Poland's LFPR (15+) was 59.7% in Q2 2023
19
US prime-age female LFPR was 57.2% in September 2023
20
Euro Area elderly LFPR (50-69) was 65.3% in 2022
21
UK LFPR for 50-64 was 71.4% in 2023
22
Australia's youth LFPR was 54.3% in 2023
23
France's male LFPR was 78.5% in 2022
24
Italy's female LFPR was 51.2% in 2023
25
Japan's elderly LFPR (65+) was 25.1% in 2023
26
OECD female LFPR gap was 11.5 points in 2022
27
Brazil's urban LFPR was 64.2% in 2023
28
India's rural LFPR was 59.1% in 2022-23
29
Mexico's female LFPR was 45.8% in 2023
30
Spain's youth LFPR was 39.7% in 2023
Interpretation
Labour Force Participation Rates Interpretation
While the global workforce is a patchwork of participation, with Germany's robust 79.2% showing how high the ceiling can be and Italy's 57.3% revealing deep structural cracks, the most telling thread is that from South Korea's 54.2% female rate to the OECD's 11.5-point gender gap, the world is still running its economy with one hand tied behind its back.
More related reading
04 · Category
Unemployment Rates30 stats
01
In the United States, the unemployment rate for adult men was 3.8% in September 2023
02
The youth unemployment rate (15-24 years) in the Euro Area stood at 14.2% in August 2023
03
Canada's overall unemployment rate reached 5.5% in October 2023
04
In the United Kingdom, the unemployment rate for people aged 16-64 was 4.2% in July-September 2023
05
Germany's unemployment rate was 3.0% in September 2023
06
Australia's unemployment rate for 25-34 year olds was 4.1% in September 2023
07
France's unemployment rate (Ages 15-64) was 7.3% in Q2 2023
08
Italy recorded a youth unemployment rate of 21.5% in August 2023
09
Japan's unemployment rate was 2.6% in September 2023
10
South Korea's unemployment rate for women was 3.1% in September 2023
11
In OECD countries, the average unemployment rate was 4.8% in July 2023
12
Brazil's unemployment rate dropped to 7.2% in Q3 2023
13
India's urban unemployment rate was 5.4% in April-June 2023
14
Mexico's unemployment rate was 2.9% in August 2023
15
Spain's long-term unemployment rate was 10.1% in Q2 2023
16
Sweden's unemployment rate for foreign-born was 7.8% in August 2023
17
The Netherlands' youth unemployment rate was 8.3% in Q2 2023
18
Poland's unemployment rate was 2.8% in September 2023
19
In the US, Black unemployment rate was 5.9% in September 2023
20
Euro Area women's unemployment rate was 6.8% in August 2023
21
UK's long-term unemployment affected 26.5% of unemployed in 2023
22
Australia's Indigenous unemployment rate was 13.7% in 2021-22
23
France's youth unemployment rate was 17.8% in Q2 2023
24
Italy's regional unemployment in South was 13.4% in 2022
25
Japan's part-time unemployment rate was 1.2% in 2023
26
OECD long-term unemployment rate averaged 1.7% in 2022
27
Brazil's youth unemployment was 17.3% in Q3 2023
28
India's rural unemployment rate was 2.4% in 2022-23
29
Mexico's informal unemployment was 1.5% in Q2 2023
30
Spain's unemployment rate for over 55s was 12.5% in 2023
Interpretation
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
While the data reveals a sturdy job market in many major economies, it also exposes a troubling pattern of youth, regional, and demographic disparities hiding within the seemingly healthy headline figures.
05 · Category
Wages and Earnings30 stats
01
In the US, average hourly earnings for private sector rose 4.0% year-over-year in September 2023
02
Euro Area hourly labour costs increased by 4.8% in Q2 2023
03
Canada's average weekly earnings grew 4.1% in August 2023
04
UK median weekly earnings for full-time employees were £703 in April 2023
05
Germany's average gross monthly earnings were €4,105 in 2022
06
Australia's average weekly ordinary time earnings reached AUD 1,888 in August 2023
07
France's average gross hourly wage was €27.4 in 2022
08
Italy's average annual gross earnings were €29,746 in 2022
09
Japan's average monthly cash earnings grew 2.5% in August 2023
10
South Korea's minimum wage increased to KRW 9,860 per hour in 2024
11
OECD average annual wages were USD 49,270 in 2022 PPP
12
Brazil's average monthly real wage was BRL 2,979 in Q2 2023
13
India's average daily wage for casual labour was INR 388 in 2022-23
14
Mexico's average daily wage in formal sector was MXN 524 in Q2 2023
15
Spain's gender pay gap was 11.0% in 2022
16
Sweden's median hourly earnings were SEK 210 in 2022
17
Netherlands' average annual labour costs per hour were €38.8 in 2022
18
Poland's average monthly gross wage was PLN 7,238 in August 2023
19
US real median weekly earnings fell 0.6% in Q3 2023
20
Euro Area minimum wage coverage was 13.7% of full-time workers in 2023
21
UK real terms pay growth was 1.7% in July 2023
22
Australia's gender pay gap narrowed to 21.7% in 2023
23
France's SMIC minimum wage rose 2.0% in 2023
24
Italy's sectoral wage in manufacturing was €25.4/hour in 2022
25
Japan's bonus payments averaged 1.68 months salary in 2023
26
OECD top 10% wage share was 1.78 times median in 2022
27
Brazil's minimum wage was BRL 1,320 monthly in 2023
28
India's organized sector average wage was INR 15,000 monthly in 2023
29
Mexico's wage growth was 5.6% nominal in 2023
30
Spain's average wage in services was €23,100 annually in 2022
Interpretation
Wages and Earnings Interpretation
The global wage story is a patchwork quilt of modest gains being feverishly stitched while inflation's scissors snip at the threads, leaving many workers clutching at nominal raises that feel a lot less real in their pockets.
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
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Labour Market Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/labour-market-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Labour Market Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/labour-market-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Labour Market Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/labour-market-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level