Paris, 9 September 2014

OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates

News Release: July 2014

OECD unemployment rate nudges up to 7.4% in July 2014

The OECD unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 7.4% in July 2014. Across the
OECD area, 44.8 million people were unemployed, 5.1 million less than the peak recorded in April 2010 but
still 10.2 million more than in July 2008.
The unemployment rate was stable in the Euro area, at 11.5%, with little change from the previous
month in most countries, except in Italy where it increased by 0.3 percentage point (to 12.6%) and in
Slovenia where it fell by 0.3 percentage point (to 9.8%).
In July, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point in Japan (to 3.8%) and the
United States (to 6.2%), by 0.3 percentage point in Mexico (to 5.2%) and by 0.4 percentage point in
Australia (to 6.4%). By contrast, it decreased by 0.1 percentage point in Canada (to 7.0%) and by 0.2
percentage point in Korea (to 3.4%). More recent data for August show that the unemployment rate fell in
the United States (by 0.1 percentage point to 6.1%), while it was stable in Canada.
The OECD unemployment rate for women (at 7.5%) was 0.2 percentage point higher than that for
men (at 7.3%). The unemployment rate for youth was stable at 14.9%, 2.4 percentage points below the
peak recorded in October 2009 but 1.9 percentage points higher than in July 2008. Youth unemployment
remains exceptionally high in several Euro area countries such as Spain (at 53.8%), Greece (at 53.1% in
May, the latest month available), Italy (at 42.9%), Portugal (at 35.5%) and the Slovak Republic (at 31.7%).
OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates, s.a.
Euro area

United States

Japan

OECD Total

Jun-14

13

Jul-14

Jul-13

18

12

16

11
14

10
9

12

8
10

7
6

5
6

4
3

All persons

Women

Men

Youth
(15-24)

25+

Methodological Notes: http://www.oecd.org/std/labourstatistics/44743407.pdf

All rates and levels quoted are seasonally adjusted (s.a.).
New Labour Market Statistics: http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=36324
Country Note: The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli
authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem
and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Contacts: For further information readers are invited to contact the OECD's Media Relations Division on
(33) 1 45 24 97 00 or e-mail news.contact@oecd.org
For technical questions contact stat.contact@oecd.org
Next release: Thursday, 9 October 2014

Paris, 9 September 2014

OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates

News Release: July 2014
Table 1: OECD Unemployment Rates, s.a.
Percentage of active population
2011

2012

2013

OECD - Total
Major Seven
European Union
Euro area

7.9
7.6
9.6
10.1

7.9
7.4
10.5
11.3

7.9
7.1
10.8
12.0

2013
Q3
Q4
7.9
7.7
7.1
6.9
10.8 10.7
12.0 11.9

Australia
Austria
Belgium
(1)
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
(2)
United States

5.1
4.1
7.2
7.5
7.1
6.7
7.6
12.4
7.8
9.2
6.0
17.9
11.0
7.1
14.7
5.6
8.4
4.6
3.4
4.8
5.2
4.5
6.5
3.3
9.7
12.9
13.7
8.2
21.4
7.8
4.0
8.8
8.0
9.0

5.2
4.4
7.6
7.2
6.4
7.0
7.5
10.0
7.7
9.8
5.5
24.5
10.9
6.0
14.7
6.9
10.7
4.4
3.2
5.1
5.0
5.3
6.9
3.2
10.1
15.8
14.0
8.9
24.8
8.0
4.2
8.2
7.9
8.1

5.7
4.9
8.5
7.1
5.9
7.0
7.0
8.6
8.2
10.3
5.3
27.5
10.2
5.4
13.1
6.2
12.2
4.0
3.1
5.9
4.9
6.7
6.2
3.5
10.3
16.4
14.2
10.1
26.1
8.0
4.4
8.7
7.5
7.4

5.7
5.0
8.5
7.1
5.5
6.9
7.0
8.3
8.1
10.3
5.3
27.8
10.1
5.3
12.8
6.0
12.3
4.0
3.1
5.9
4.9
7.0
6.1
3.5
10.3
16.0
14.3
9.9
26.1
8.0
4.7
9.0
7.5
7.2

5.8
5.0
8.5
7.0
6.1
6.7
6.9
8.6
8.3
10.2
5.2
27.6
9.2
4.8
12.2
5.8
12.5
3.9
3.0
6.1
4.8
7.0
6.0
3.5
10.0
15.4
14.1
9.7
25.8
8.0
4.1
8.7
7.1
7.0

2014
Q1
Q2
7.5
7.4
6.7
6.4
10.5 10.3
11.7 11.6
6.0
5.0
8.4
7.0
6.4
6.6
6.8
7.9
8.4
10.2
5.2
27.3
8.0
5.4
12.0
5.8
12.5
3.6
3.5
6.2
4.9
7.2
5.9
3.5
9.8
14.9
13.8
10.2
25.3
8.1
4.8
(3)
9.0
6.7
6.7

5.9
5.0
8.5
7.0
6.2
6.2
6.4
7.5
8.6
10.2
5.0
8.1
5.1
11.7
6.1
12.5
3.6
3.7
6.2
5.0
7.0
5.6
3.3
9.2
14.4
13.9
10.2
24.7
8.0
4.4

6.2

Feb
7.6
6.7
10.5
11.7

Mar
7.5
6.6
10.4
11.7

2014
Apr May
7.4
7.4
6.4
6.4
10.3 10.3
11.6 11.6

6.0
5.0
8.4
7.0
6.4
6.6
6.9
7.8
8.4
10.2
5.2
27.3
7.9
4.4
12.1
5.8
12.6
3.6
3.9
6.2
4.7
7.3

5.8
4.9
8.4
6.9
6.1
6.6
6.5
7.6
8.4
10.2
5.1
27.3
7.9
5.7
11.9
5.8
12.4
3.6
3.5
6.2
5.1
7.2

5.8
4.9
8.5
6.9
6.1
6.3
6.4
7.8
8.5
10.1
5.1
27.3
8.0
5.1
11.8
5.8
12.5
3.6
3.7
6.2
5.0
7.2

3.5
9.8
14.9
13.8
10.2
25.2
8.1

3.4
9.6
14.8
13.8
10.3
25.1
8.0

6.7
6.7

6.5
6.7

Jun
7.3
6.4
10.2
11.5

Jul
7.4
6.4
10.2
11.5

5.9
5.0
8.5
7.0
6.2
6.2
6.4
7.3
8.7
10.2
5.0
27.2
8.1
4.9
11.7
6.0
12.6
3.5
3.7
6.3
5.1
7.0

6.0
5.0
8.5
7.1
6.2
6.0
6.5
7.3
8.6
10.2
5.0

6.4
4.9
8.5
7.0

8.7
10.3
4.9

8.1
5.2
11.6
6.5
12.3
3.7
3.6
6.2
4.9
6.8

4.4
11.5
6.2
12.6
3.8
3.4
6.3
5.2
6.7

3.4
9.4
14.6
13.9
10.3
24.9
8.1

3.2
9.2
14.4
13.9
10.2
24.7
7.8

3.3
9.1
14.1
13.8
10.1
24.6
8.0

9.0
14.0
13.8
9.8
24.5
7.7

6.4
6.3

6.4
6.3

6.1

6.2

6.0
6.6

Note:
(1) Canada:
Unemployment rate for August 2014 was 7.0 %
(2) United States:
Unemployment rate for August 2014 was 6.1 %
(3) Following the changes introduced in the Labour Force Survey for Turkey, data from the 1st quarter 2014 are not comparable with previous
data.

Paris, 9 September 2014

OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates

News Release: July 2014
Table 2: Unemployment Rates by Gender, s.a.
Percentage of corresponding active population

2013
OECD - Total
Major Seven
European Union
Euro area

7.9
6.9
10.9
12.0

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States

5.6
4.9
8.2
6.6
6.9
8.3
7.3
8.1
7.5
10.2
5.0
31.4
10.2
5.1
10.7
6.3
13.1
3.7
2.9
6.3
5.0
6.3
6.9
3.3
11.1
16.6
14.5
11.0
26.7
7.8
4.5
10.5
7.0
7.1

Women
2014
Q1
Q2
May
7.6
7.4
7.5
6.5
6.3
6.4
10.5 10.4 10.4
11.8 11.7 11.8
6.2
5.0
7.7
6.5
6.9
8.1
7.3
7.3
7.8
9.9
4.8
30.8
8.3
5.0
10.0
5.8
13.5
3.4
3.5
6.6
5.1
6.9
6.4
3.4
10.4
15.0
13.8
11.1
26.0
7.8
4.9
(1)
10.7
6.4
6.5

6.0
4.8
7.9
6.6
6.6
7.5
6.9
7.0
8.0
9.7
4.7
8.2
5.4
9.5
6.2
13.7
3.4
3.8
6.6
4.9
6.8
6.4
3.2
9.8
14.8
13.9
11.3
25.6
7.7
4.5

6.1

2014
Jun
7.4
6.2
10.3
11.7
6.0
4.8
7.9
6.7
6.6
7.3
7.0
6.9
8.0
9.7
4.7

7.8
7.3
10.8
11.9

Men
2014
Q1
Q2
May
7.5
7.3
7.3
6.8
6.5
6.5
10.5 10.2 10.2
11.7 11.5 11.5

5.7
5.0
8.7
7.5
5.3
5.9
6.7
9.0
8.8
10.3
5.7
24.5
10.2
5.7
15.0
6.2
11.5
4.3
3.3
5.6
4.9
7.1
5.6
3.7
9.7
16.3
14.0
9.5
25.6
8.2
4.3
8.0
8.0
7.6

5.8
4.9
9.0
7.4
6.1
5.5
6.4
8.4
9.0
10.5
5.4
24.5
7.7
5.8
13.7
5.8
11.8
3.8
3.6
5.9
4.8
7.5
5.5
3.5
9.3
14.8
13.9
9.4
24.6
8.3
4.7
(1)
8.2
7.0
6.9

2013
Jul
7.5
6.4
10.3
11.7

6.0
4.9
7.9
6.7
6.6
7.5
7.0
6.8
8.1
9.7
4.7
31.1
8.2
6.4
9.5
6.2
14.0
3.4
3.9
6.6
5.2
6.8

6.3
4.5
7.9
6.5

8.2
4.9
9.4
6.3
13.8
3.5
3.6
6.6
4.9
6.6

4.1
9.3
6.1
13.9
3.7
3.6
6.6
5.0
6.4

3.1
9.8
14.8
14.0
11.4
25.6
7.5

3.2
9.7
14.7
13.9
11.1
25.6
7.5

9.5
14.7
13.9
10.9
25.6
7.6

6.1
6.2

5.9

6.2

7.2
7.3
8.0
9.7
4.6

5.9
5.1
9.0
7.4
5.9
5.1
6.0
7.8
9.2
10.6
5.3
7.9
4.8
13.5
6.0
11.6
3.8
3.6
5.9
5.0
7.1
4.8
3.4
8.7
14.0
13.8
9.2
23.9
8.2
4.3

6.4

2014
Jun
7.2
6.5
10.1
11.4

Jul
7.3
6.5
10.1
11.4

5.8
5.0
9.0
7.3
5.9
5.1
5.9
7.7
9.2
10.6
5.3
24.2
8.0
3.6
13.5
5.7
11.6
3.7
3.6
6.0
5.0
7.1

6.1
5.2
9.0
7.5
6.0
5.0
6.0
7.5
9.3
10.7
5.2

6.4
5.2
9.1
7.5

9.2
10.8
5.2

8.0
5.4
13.4
6.6
11.3
3.8
3.5
5.9
4.9
7.0

4.7
13.3
6.3
11.6
3.8
3.3
6.0
5.3
6.9

3.3
8.7
14.0
13.8
9.2
23.9
8.0

3.4
8.6
13.5
13.7
9.1
23.7
8.4

8.5
13.3
13.7
8.9
23.5
7.9

6.6
6.4

6.3

6.2

5.0
5.9

Note:
(1) Following the changes introduced in the Labour Force Survey for Turkey, data from the 1st quarter 2014 are not comparable with previous
data.

Paris, 9 September 2014

OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates

News Release: July 2014
Table 3: Unemployment Rates by Age, s.a.
Percentage of corresponding active population

2013
OECD - Total
Major Seven
European Union
Euro area

16.1
15.6
23.5
24.0

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States

12.2
9.2
23.7
13.6
16.0
18.9
13.0
18.0
19.7
24.8
7.9
58.4
27.0
10.8
26.7
10.5
40.0
6.8
9.3
17.0
9.5
11.0
15.8
9.1
27.3
38.1
33.7
21.7
55.5
23.5
8.5
17.0
20.5
15.5

Youth (15-24)
2014
Q1
Q2
May
15.4 14.8 14.9
14.8 14.0 14.0
22.7 22.1 22.0
23.7 23.3 23.3
12.6
10.0
24.1
13.7
17.7
16.8
13.4
17.5
20.5
23.7
7.9
56.5
21.2
10.8
26.1
9.2
42.6
6.2
10.2
14.3
9.6
11.3
15.4
8.1
25.5
36.3
32.0
22.3
54.0
23.3
9.3
(1)
15.5
18.6
14.4

13.4
9.4
23.3
13.4
15.4
16.4
12.6
17.4
20.3
22.6
7.9
20.7
8.8
25.0
9.4
43.4
6.4
10.2
14.1
9.8
10.8
14.2
7.7
23.9
37.2
32.1
22.1
53.2
23.2
7.7

13.1

2014
Jun
14.9
14.1
21.9
23.2

13.5
9.3
23.3
13.3
15.4
16.4
12.9
17.1
20.1
22.5
7.9
53.1
20.7
6.2
25.0
8.8
43.0
6.3
10.3
14.3
10.2
10.8

13.6
9.4
23.2
13.4
15.5
16.9
12.7
15.7
20.2
22.5
7.9

7.4
23.9
37.3
32.2
22.1
53.1
21.9

7.6
23.5
36.4
32.1
22.1
53.4
23.6

17.0
13.2

13.3

21.3
9.2
25.0
11.0
43.7
7.2
10.2
14.0
9.5
10.5

Jul
14.9
14.2
21.7
23.2
14.1
9.3
23.2
13.1
17.0
13.0
20.3
22.5
7.8

10.5
25.1
14.9
42.9
6.7
9.2
14.3
9.2
10.4

23.2
35.5
31.7
53.8
20.7

13.6

Prime-age and Older Workers (25+)

2013
2014
2014
Q1
Q2
May Jun
Jul
6.7
6.5
6.3
6.4
6.3
6.3
6.0
5.6
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.4
9.5
9.2
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
10.7 10.6 10.5 10.5 10.4 10.4
4.3
4.3
7.1
5.9
4.5
6.1
5.9
7.6
6.5
8.7
5.0
25.4
8.9
4.3
11.6
5.4
10.3
3.8
2.7
5.1
3.9
5.9
4.4
2.6
8.8
14.7
12.5
9.2
23.8
5.7
3.7
7.2
5.4
6.1

4.6
4.2
7.0
5.8
4.8
5.9
5.6
6.9
6.7
8.8
4.8
25.3
7.0
4.3
10.6
5.1
10.5
3.4
3.0
5.6
3.8
6.5
4.1
2.7
8.3
13.2
12.3
9.3
23.0
5.9
4.1
(1)
7.7
4.8
5.5

4.4
4.3
7.2
5.9
4.9
5.4
5.4
6.5
6.9
8.9
4.7
7.1
4.3
10.4
4.9
10.4
3.4
3.2
5.7
3.9
6.3
4.0
2.6
7.9
12.6
12.3
9.3
22.6
5.7
3.9

5.1

4.4
4.3
7.2
5.9
4.9
5.4
5.3
6.4
7.1
8.9
4.7
25.4
7.1
4.6
10.4
5.1
10.4
3.3
3.2
5.7
3.9
6.3

4.5
4.3
7.2
6.1
4.9
5.2
5.4
6.5
7.0
9.0
4.7

4.8
4.2
7.2
6.0

7.1
4.3
10.3
4.7
10.4
3.4
3.1
5.7
3.8
6.1

2.5
7.9
12.6
12.3
9.3
22.6
5.7

2.6
7.8
12.4
12.3
9.3
22.4
5.7

7.7
12.4
12.3
9.2
22.3
5.8

4.7
5.2

5.0

5.0

5.2
5.4
7.0
9.0
4.6

3.2
10.2
4.7
3.5
3.0
5.7
4.3
6.0

Note:
(1) Following the changes introduced in the Labour Force Survey for Turkey, data from the 1st quarter 2014 are not comparable with
previous data.

Paris, 9 September 2014

OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates

News Release: July 2014
Table 4: Unemployment Levels, s.a.
Thousands of persons
2012

2013

OECD - Total
Major Seven
European Union
Euro area

47,672
27,152
25,411
18,078

47,671
26,267
26,418
19,123

2013
Q4
46,498
25,385
26,044
18,995

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States

625
189
369
1,368
524
367
219
69
207
2,858
2,316
1,195
476
11
316
247
2,746
2,848
820
13
2,496
468
165
86
1,749
836
378
90
5,811
402
193
2,201
2,511
12,506

688
215
417
1,348
491
370
203
58
219
3,007
2,270
1,330
446
10
282
228
3,113
2,651
807
15
2,539
600
149
95
1,793
855
386
102
6,051
410
205
2,438
2,418
11,460

707
220
419
1,347
510
356
199
58
222
2,995
2,225
1,331
405
9
263
214
3,196
2,560
791
16
2,497
627
147
94
1,743
800
382
97
5,943
410
193
2,459
2,286
10,777

2014
Q1
Q2
45,877 44,749
24,665 23,797
25,601 25,071
18,767 18,522
730
218
417
1,334
540
351
196
53
225
2,995
2,200
1,301
358
10
258
219
3,208
2,370
933
16
2,543
642
146
94
1,711
768
376
103
5,792
417
226
(1)
2,570
2,164
10,394

730
219
422
1,347
521
325
186
50
230
2,987
2,151
361
9
251
229
3,187
2,377
972
16
2,583
621
137
90
1,606
744
375
103
5,675
411
209

9,675

Apr
44,926
23,866
25,210
18,590

2014
May
Jun
44,890 44,424
23,900 23,626
25,113 24,891
18,572 18,405

Jul
44,793
23,902
24,850
18,409

718
216
420
1,329
512
335
185
52
227
2,971
2,177
1,306
356
9
253
216
3,182
2,360
995
16
2,596
636

725
219
422
1,344
521
324
185
49
232
2,984
2,153
1,309
364
9
252
225
3,229
2,330
976
16
2,628
623

745
221
423
1,370
525
317
188
48
231
3,007
2,123

789
217
425
1,353

362
10
249
245
3,151
2,440
944
16
2,524
605

8
247
233
3,220
2,480
909
16
2,703
594

92
1,638
756
376
104
5,711
419

88
1,605
744
376
103
5,678
402

90
1,576
731
373
102
5,637
412

1,551
722
373
100
5,615
402

2,094
9,753

2,061
9,799

9,474

9,671

315
190
232
3,026
2,091

Note:
(1) Following the changes introduced in the Labour Force Survey for Turkey, data from the 1st quarter 2014 are not comparable with
previous data.