OECD Employment Outlook 2024: The Net-Zero Transition and the Labour Market

Annex A. Statistical annex

Sources and definitions

The tables of the statistical annex show data for all 38 OECD countries where available. Data for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa and non-OECD EU Member States are also compiled and included in a number of datasets.

The standard tabulations (Tables A to R of previous editions of the Employment Outlook) are replaced by web links pointing to data and indicators reported in the new OECD central data repository OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/, which contains all data available. Some additional web links entitled Table S to W complete the statistical annex referring respectively to data and indicators on statutory minimum wages, trade union density, collective bargaining coverage and synthetic indicators of employment protection. A richer set of labour market data and indicators is accessible in the OECD Data Explorer. The metadata section of the online datasets reports definitions, notes and sources retained in national data sources.

In general, Tables A to K report annual averages of monthly and quarterly estimates based on labour force surveys. Those shown for European countries in Tables A to C and G to K are mainly data from the European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), which are more comparable and sometime more consistent over time than national LFS results. Data for the remaining Tables L to V are from a combination of survey and administrative sources or national reporting for Table W.

OECD Data Explorer contains both raw data and indicators for longer time series and more detailed individual characteristics and type of main job such as data by age group, gender and employee job tenure, part time employment, involuntary part time employment, temporary employment, duration of unemployment. The data portal includes more data series than those shown in the web links of the Statistical Annex, such as, the distribution of employment by weekly usual hours worked intervals, potential labour force so-called people marginally attached to the labour force, etc. The online database contains additional series on working time, earnings and features of institutional and regulatory environments of labour markets. Among these are the following:

• Annual hours actually worked per person in employment for comparisons of trends over time

• Employment by long usual weekly hours worked in the main job

• Average gross annual wages per dependent employee in full time equivalent unit

• Distribution of gross earnings of full-time workers by upper earnings decile limits and by gender and earnings dispersion measures and gaps (by gender and age)

• Statutory minimum wages – levels and ratio of minimum to mean and median wages

• Public expenditure on labour market programmes, number of beneficiaries and inflows into the labour market

• Trade union density and collective bargaining coverage

• Synthetic indicators of employment protection

Major breaks in series

Tables A to K: Most of the breaks in series in the tables occurred for any of the following reasons: changes in survey design, survey questionnaire, survey frequency and administration, revisions of data series based on updated population census results. These changes may have affected the comparability over time of employment and/or unemployment levels and to a certain extent the ratios reported in the aforementioned tables:

• Change in the measurement of the labour force status and methodology in the European Labour Force Survey since 2021: Data between 2020 and 2021 are affected by a break in series in Tables A-C and G-K. The size and direction of the breaks vary by country and statistics as reported in the national documentations on Eurostat website. See: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=EU_Labour_Force_Survey_-_new_methodology_from_2021_onwards.

• Introduction of a continuous survey producing quarterly results: Austria (2003/04), Brazil (2011/12), France (2002/03), Germany (2004/05), Hungary (2005/06, monthly results), Iceland (2002/03), Italy (2003/04), Luxembourg (2002/03, quarterly results as of 2007) and Türkiye (2013/14).

  Data revisions in the following OECD countries:

  • 2009 to 2015: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

  • Australia (since 2017), Denmark (2021), Italy (2018‑20), Spain, Portugal and Sweden (since 2021) and Poland (2015).

  • Chile: Re‑estimation since 2010 implementing the quality estimation standards for household surveys set by the National Statistics Institute of Chile.

• Redesign of labour force survey: Introduction of a new survey in Chile since April 2010 (see below), Germany (2010/11), Hungary (2002/03), Poland (2004/05), Portugal (2010/11) and Türkiye (2004/05 from quarterly to monthly results). Israel (2011/12), change from quarterly to monthly survey results and a change from “civilian” to “total” labour force (including those who are in compulsory or permanent military service). New Zealand (2015/16), the survey includes non-civilian personnel. Annual results for Colombia in 2020 are averaged over three‑quarters (Q1, Q3 and Q4) as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic outburst and suspension of the survey in the 2^nd quarter. Since July 2020, a new edition of the continuous quarterly survey was re‑introduced in Mexico (Encuesta Nacional de Ocupación y Empleo, New edition ENOE^N) after its suspension in April 2020 following the COVID‑19 pandemic outburst and lockdown measures. It was replaced in Q2 by a telephone interview survey (ETOE) with partial results. The annual results are averages of three‑quarters (Q1, Q3 and Q4). For the United Kingdom (2003/04), data for Tables A to C are annual averages of quarterly estimates from the Annual Population Survey (APS); prior to 2004, they refer to the spring quarter (April-June) Labour Force Survey (LFS). Data for Tables G to K are annual averages of quarterly estimates from APS from 2016 onwards.

• Change in the operational definition of employment:

  • Neat application of the criterion of “at least one hour worked in a gainful job” in the Chilean Nueva Encuesta Nacional de Empleo (NENE), a quarterly continuous survey, from April 2010 onward.

• Change in the operational definition of usual working time:

  • In Israel, the Labour Force Survey questionnaire was expanded and changed since January 2018. Workers absent from work are asked “how many hours they usually work”. This affects the number of workers reporting usual weekly hours worked in their main job prior and after 2018 notably Table G on the incidence and composition of part-time employment according to a common 30‑hour threshold-based definition.

• Change in the operational definition of unemployment regarding:

  • Active job-search methods: in particular a change from registration to contact with the public employment service: France (2002/03) and Spain (2000/01).

  • Duration of active job search: In Australia (2014/15), the duration of unemployment has been replaced by duration of job search. In Belgium (2010/11), the duration of job search has been changed from an unlimited duration to previous four weeks including the survey reference week. In Chile (2009/10), the duration of active job search has been shortened from last two months to previous four weeks including the survey reference week.

  • Availability to work criterion: In Sweden (2004/05), the work availability criterion changed from the reference week to two weeks from the reference week to be consistent with the operational definition in other EU countries. In Chile, the work availability criterion did not exist prior to 2010 in the Encuesta Nacional de Empleo (ENE) and was introduced in the Nueva Encuesta Nacional de Empleo (NENE) since April 2010. It has been fixed to two weeks from the end of the reference week.

  • Persons on lay off considered as employed instead of unemployed: Norway (2005/06).

  • Other minor changes: Australia (2000/01) and Poland (2003/04).

• Changes in the questionnaire with impact on employment and unemployment estimates: Germany (2010/11): new questionnaire design ensures better coverage of small jobs. This led to a higher-than-normal annual employment increase. Impact on employment and unemployment statistics in New Zealand (2015/16) with the inclusion of army personnel. Spain (2004/05): impact on employment and unemployment and impact on unemployment estimates in Norway (2005/06) and Sweden (2004/05).

• Change from seasonal to calendar quarters: Switzerland (2009/10) and the United Kingdom (2005/06). However, there is no break in series between 2005 and 2006 for the United Kingdom as calendar quarter based historical series are available since 1992.

• Introduction of new EU harmonised questionnaire: Sweden (2004/05) and Türkiye (2003/04).

• Change in lower age limit from 16 to 15 years: Iceland (2008/09), Norway (2005/06) and Sweden (2006/07).

• Change in lower age limit from 15 to 16 years: Italy (2007/08).

• Change in data collector in Denmark since the first quarter of 2017: the LFS response rate increased and resulted in a significant break in series between 2016 and 2017.

• In Norway, as of 2006 age is defined as years reached at the survey reference week, instead of completed years at the end of the year, as in previous years.

• Inclusion of population controls based on census results in the estimation process: Mexico (2009/10) and Türkiye (2006/07).

• In Japan, data for Table I on temporary employees has a break in series between 2013 and 2017.

Table A. Employment/population ratios by age and gender

As a percentage of the population in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Employment and unemployment by five‑year age group and sex - indicators

Table B. Labour force participation rates by age and gender

As a percentage of the population in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Employment and unemployment by five‑year age group and sex - indicators

Table C. Unemployment rates by age and gender

As a percentage of the total labour force in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Employment and unemployment by five‑year age group and sex - indicators

Table D. Employment/population ratios by educational attainment, latest year

Persons aged 25‑64, as a percentage of the population in each gender.

OECD Data Explorer - Archive • Educational attainment and labour-force status

Table E. Labour force participation rates by educational attainment, latest year

Persons aged 25‑64, as a percentage of the population in each gender.

OECD Data Explorer - Archive • Educational attainment and labour-force status

Table F. Unemployment rates by educational attainment, latest year

Persons aged 25‑64, as a percentage of the labour force in each gender.

OECD Data Explorer - Archive • Educational attainment and labour-force status

Table G1. Incidence of part-time employment by age and gender

As a percentage of part-time employment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Incidence of full-time and part-time employment based on OECD-harmonised definition

Table G2. Women’s share in part-time employment by age

As a percentage of part-time employment in each age group.

OECD Data Explorer • Gender share of part-time employment

Table H1. Incidence of involuntary part-time employment by age and gender

As a percentage of total employment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Incidence of involuntary part time employment

Table H2. Involuntary part-time employment as a share of part-time employment by age and gender

As a percentage of part-time employment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Incidence of involuntary part time employment

Table I1. Incidence of temporary employment by age and gender

As a percentage of dependent employment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Employment by permanency of the job - Incidence

Table I2. Women’s share in temporary employment by age

As a percentage of dependent employment in each age group.

OECD Data Explorer • Share of women in temporary employment by permanency of the job

Table J. Incidence of job tenure shorter than 12 months by age and gender

As a percentage of total employment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Employment by job tenure intervals - frequency

Table K. Incidence of long-term unemployment, 12 months and over by age and gender

As a percentage of total unemployment in each age group and each gender.

OECD Data Explorer • Incidence of unemployment by duration

Table L. Average annual hours actually worked per person in employment

National accounts concepts unless otherwise specified (Hours per person per year).

OECD Data Explorer • Average annual hours actually worked per worker

Table M. Real average annual wages

Average wages in in constant 2022 prices at 2022 USD PPPs for private consumption expenditures.

OECD Data Explorer • Average annual wages

Table N. Earnings dispersion by gender

OECD Data Explorer • Decile ratios of gross earnings

Table O. Incidence of high and low pay by gender

OECD Data Explorer • Incidence of low and high pay

Table P. Relative earnings: Gender gap

OECD Data Explorer • Gender wage gap

Table Q. Relative earnings: Age gap

OECD Data Explorer • Wage gap by age

Table R1. Public expenditure in labour market programmes

As a percentage of GDP.

OECD Data Explorer • Labour Market Programmes

Table R2. Participant stocks in labour market programmes

As a percentage of the labour force.

OECD Data Explorer • Labour Market Programmes

Table S. Real hourly minimum wages

Statutory minimum wages in constant 2022 prices at 2022 USD Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for private consumption expenditures.

OECD Data Explorer • Real minimum wages at constant prices

Table T. Minimum wage relative to mean and median earnings

As a percentage of median earnings of full-time employees.

OECD Data Explorer • Minimum relative to average wages of full-time workers

Table U. Trade union density

As a percentage of the number of employees.

OECD Data Explorer • Trade union density

Table V. Collective bargaining coverage

As a percentage of eligible employees with the right to bargain.

OECD Data Explorer • Collective bargaining coverage

Table W1. Strictness of employment protection – individual and collective dismissals (regular contracts)

Index varying from 0 to 6, from the least to the most stringent.

OECD Data Explorer • Strictness of employment protection

Table W2. Strictness of employment protection – temporary contracts

Index varying from 0 to 6, from the least to the most stringent.

OECD Data Explorer • Strictness of employment protection