Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America
United States of America: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America peaked at 8.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2023.
That places United States of America 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.4% | — |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 6.6% | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 6.1% | -7.9% |
| 1995 | 5.7% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 4.6% | -8.9% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +20.6% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | -9.2% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +20.3% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +48.6% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -14.6% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +131.6% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -37.6% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -30.7% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | +13.4% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +6.8% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 4.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.3%, 78% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of 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 | +131.6% | 3.6% | 8.4% |
| 2009 | +48.6% | 5.4% | 8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7% | 4.3% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 4.1% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.6% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 3.5% | 8.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United States of America was 4.2% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2023.
- How does United States of America rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- United States of America ranks 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of 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.