The OECD employment rate held steady at a record 70.3% in Q2 2025, alongside an unchanged labour force participation rate of 74.1%, sustaining historic highs despite varied country-level trends.

• Employment rates increased in 17 OECD countries, were flat in 11, and declined in 10, showing broadly steady labour conditions across the bloc.

• France and Japan were among six countries reporting rates at or near record highs, while Türkiye remained lowest at 54.9%.

• Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Iceland all maintained employment rates above 80%, reflecting persistently tight labour markets.

• The euro area’s employment rate rose +0.4 ppts YoY, supported by stronger participation. Colombia and Greece recorded the largest annual gains (+1.2 ppts each), driven by lower unemployment.

• Estonia and New Zealand saw YoY declines of -1.0 ppt or more, linked to weaker participation and higher unemployment.

• The OECD unemployment rate was stable at 5.0% in August, where it has held since April 2022.

• Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) rose slightly to 11.6% (from 11.2% in July), while rates for adults and both genders were unchanged.

• Unemployment remained steady in 23 OECD members, increased in 7 (including Canada and Japan), and fell in only 2; Canada’s September rate held at 7.1%.

The OECD unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% in July 2025, maintaining a streak at or below 5.0% since April 2022 and leaving the total unemployed at 34.3 million.

• Unemployment rates were unchanged in 20 OECD countries, fell in 11 (notably Greece and Norway), and rose only in Ireland and Sweden.

• Japan, Korea, and Slovenia posted jobless rates below 3%, near record lows, while 14 OECD countries had rates at least 1.0 ppt above their historic lows.

• Youth unemployment declined to 11.2% (from 11.4% in June) but remained 7.1 ppts higher than the 25+ rate; the gap was smallest in Japan and Germany (<3 ppts) and largest in Costa Rica, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia (>15 ppts).

• Men’s unemployment held at 4.8% and women’s at 5.0%, both stable from June.

• In the EU and euro area, rates remained at 5.9% and 6.2%, respectively; Greece, Austria, and Portugal saw demographic-driven shifts, while Ireland’s rise was led by women.

• Outside the euro area, Türkiye’s jobless rate fell to a record low of 8%, while Sweden’s increase was driven by women.

• August data showed Canada’s unemployment rising to 7.1%, while the U.S. remained stable at 4.3%, slightly above levels from January.