Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD
OECD: Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and was 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2024. ▲ Rising
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD, 1995–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2024, employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD stood at 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD peaked at 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2024 and was at its lowest, 73.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1997.
OECD ranks 16th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 74.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1997 | 73.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 74.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 73.84 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 75.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 75.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 75.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 75.79 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 76.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 77.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 78.34 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 78.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 78.86 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 76.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 75.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 77.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 78.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 80.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 80.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 73.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 74.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 4 |
| 2000s | 76.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 75.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 78.86 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 75.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 75.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 1 |
| 2020s | 79.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 77.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 5 |
Countries ranked near OECD
- 13 Austria 82.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Canada 82.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 15 Sweden 81.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 17 Czechia 80.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 18 France 80.22 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 19 Denmark 79.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for OECD
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 37,610 Persons (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 36,963 Persons (2022)
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels 666,682 Persons (2025)
- Unemployed population — Unemployment 34,262 Persons (2024)
- Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked 1,736 Hours per year per person (2025)
- Incidence of unemployment by duration 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup (2025)
- Monthly unemployment levels 34,246 Persons (2024)
- Gender share of part-time employment 65.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup (2025)
- Full-time and part-time employment based on national definition 504,527 Persons (2025)
- Full-time and part-time employment 504,527 Persons (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD?
- Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in OECD was 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in OECD?
- The highest recorded value was 81.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in OECD?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1997.
- How does OECD rank for employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and?
- OECD ranks 16th out of 37 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and rising or falling in OECD?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this OECD data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on employment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the employment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.