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, 1990–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America stood at 4.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.1% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America peaked at 8.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
North America ranks 21st of 24 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.8% | — |
| 1991 | 6.7% | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 7.3% | +8.7% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 6.0% | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 4.9% | +11.9% |
| 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% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +46.0% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -13.1% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -10.4% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +123.3% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -35.6% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -30.6% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +13.6% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
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 | +123.3% | 3.8% | 8.5% |
| 2009 | +46.0% | 5.5% | 8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.6% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.4% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 3.7% | 8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (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 Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 2010.
- 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 21st out of 24 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 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.