Female employment rate in United States
United States: Female employment rate was 54.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Female employment rate in United States, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female employment rate in United States stood at 54.0%.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in United States peaked at 56.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.0%, in 2020.
That places United States 65th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female employment rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 52.3% | — |
| 1992 | 52.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 52.7% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 53.9% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 54.3% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 54.7% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 55.4% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 55.7% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 56.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 55.8% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 55.1% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 54.9% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 54.8% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 55.1% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 55.5% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 55.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 55.1% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 53.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 52.6% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 52.2% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 52.3% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 52.4% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 52.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 53.0% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 53.4% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 54.0% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 54.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 54.8% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 51.0% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 54.0% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 54.6% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 54.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 54.0% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.2% | 52.3% | 56.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 55.1% | 53.4% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.2% | 52.2% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 51.0% | 54.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in United States?
- Female employment rate in United States was 54.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 56.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.0% in 2020.
- How does United States rank for female employment rate?
- United States ranks 65th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.