Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America
North America: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North America recorded 4.5% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 7.2% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America peaked at 8.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
That places North America 37th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.7% | — |
| 1992 | 7.3% | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 6.0% | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 4.9% | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | +18.3% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -8.5% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | +45.8% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -13.0% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +123.6% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -35.7% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -30.5% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +13.6% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +7.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +123.6% | 3.8% | 8.5% |
| 2009 | +45.8% | 5.5% | 7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.6% | 7.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.4% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 3.7% | 8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 34 French Polynesia 12.5% compare
- 35 United States Virgin Islands 12.2% compare
- 36 New Caledonia 12.1% compare
- 37 Spain 11.9% compare
- 38 Nepal 11.8% compare
- 39 Türkiye 11.6% compare
- 40 Cape Verde 11.4% compare
More education data for North America
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.20 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0687 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.9% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America was 4.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does North America rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- North America ranks 37th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.