Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members
OECD members: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members, 1990–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
OECD members recorded 4.8% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members peaked at 8.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2023.
That places OECD members 11th out of 24 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.4% | — |
| 1991 | 6.3% | +15.2% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +11.7% |
| 1993 | 7.5% | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 7.0% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 6.9% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 6.5% | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 5.6% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +42.4% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 5.7% | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | +32.2% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -20.3% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 4.8% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.9% | 5.4% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 5.6% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 5.3% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.7% | 6.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More work & labour data for OECD members
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 53.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 43.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in OECD members was 4.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2023.
- How does OECD members rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- OECD members ranks 11th out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male 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.