Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members
OECD members: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 5.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members stood at 5.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members peaked at 8.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2023.
OECD members ranks 21st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.6% | — |
| 1992 | 8.0% | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 8.4% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 7.5% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 6.4% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | +26.2% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 5.7% | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +33.4% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -18.4% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 5.2% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.2% | 7.6% | 8.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 6.3% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 5.6% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 7.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
- 18 Namibia 18.4% compare
- 19 Haiti 18.0% compare
- 20 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16.0% compare
- 21 Iran, Islamic Republic of 15.6% compare
- 22 Egypt 15.3% compare
- 23 Mauritania 14.7% compare
- 24 Lebanon 14.5% compare
More education data for OECD members
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 116.41 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2049 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.28 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in OECD members was 5.2% 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 OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2023.
- How does OECD members rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- OECD members ranks 21st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members 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.