Country
Profile No.2
Gl bal Perspectives
April, 2008
Statistical Profile of The United States
Introduction
Organizations striving to be employers-of-choice in different countries
around the world need access to current information about the economic,
social, political, and demographic characteristics of the countries where their
employees live and work.
The Country Profile Series focuses on statistics that can guide decisionmaking at the workplace: workforce highlights, economic highlights, and
population highlights. This Country Profile is part of a set of resources about
the United States available on the website of the Global Perspectives Institute:
www.bc.edu/agingandwork.
Sponsored by:
In collaboration with:
Country Profile: United States
Workforce Highlights
àà 49% of the total United States population is in the labor force.1
àà The labor force is projected to slightly increase from 141.0 million in
2000 to 191.8 million in 2050 (with annual growth rate of 0.6%).2
àà The December 2007 unemployment rate was 5.0%.3
àà In December 2007, the average hours worked per week by American
employees (working either part-time or full-time) in the private sector
was 33.8.4
àà In 2006, 16.3% of the labor force was part-time.5
àà 10.5% of the total civilian employed labor force reported being selfemployed in 2004.6
àà As noted in Figure 1, 49% of the United States population is in the
labor force, compared to 51% in Canada and 41% in Mexico. 1,7
1
Figure 1: Employed as a percent of total population, North American countries,
2005-2007*
Mexico
41
United States
49
Canada
51
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
*Most recent available year
Source: Statistics Canada7, Central Intelligence Agency1
Country Profile: United States
àà Figure 2 compares the rate of employment as a percent of the total population in the United
States with other countries with high gross national incomes. The employment rates of the
countries included in Figure 2 range from 42% in Italy to 53% in Germany.
“(Gross national income is GDP less net taxes on production and imports, less compensation of employees
and property income payable to the rest of the world plus the corresponding items receivable from the
rest of the world (in other words, GDP less primary incomes payable to non-resident units plus primary
incomes receivable from non-resident units).” 5 OECD Factbook
Figure 2: Employed as a percent of total population, selected high GNI countries, 2005-2007*
Germany
Canada
Japan
Australia
United States
United Kingdom
France
Netherlands
Italy
53
51
50
50
49
48
44
43
42
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
*Most recent available year
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics9, Statistics Canada7, United Kingdom Office of National Statistics10, United States Bureau of
Labor Statistics5, The World Factbook 20071, Statistical Handbook of Japan11
2
àà The employment rates among persons aged 15-64 years are presented in Figure 3. 78 percent
of men and 66 percent of women in this age group are employed in the United States.8
Figure 3: Employment Rates, Ages 15-64 by Gender: United States and
comparable OECD nations, 2005
77
71
70
68
68
57
79
78
77
66
65
60
80
79
65
67
58
n
pa
Ja
Un
ite
d
Ki
ng
do
m
lia
ra
st
Au
St
at
es
s
nd
et
he
rla
ad
Ca
n
N
Men
Un
ite
d
y
G
er
m
an
ly
Ita
nc
Fr
a
a
45
e
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Women
Country Profile: United States
Source: 2007 OECD Factbook8
Figure 4: Employment Rates in United States, within age group, 2007
100%
83.5
80%
74.4
60%
40%
83.8
82.2
54.9
39.1
28.9
20%
0%
16-17 18-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54
55+
Source: 2007 OECD Factbook8
3
àà The information presented in Figure 5 compares the employment rates for each age group
with Canada and South Mexico. In 2007, the employment rate for people age 55-59 was
lowest in Mexico (60.9%) and highest in the United States (72.0%).12
Figure 5: Employment Rates in the United States compared to selected
North American countries within age group, 2007
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Canada
Source: International Labor Organization
Mexico
65+
Country Profile: United States
20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
United States
14
àà Figure 6 compares the 2007 employments rates for the different age groups in the United
States with the projected rates for 2020. As noted, the employment rates among people aged
55 and older are anticipated to increase over the next 13 years.12
Figure 6: Current and Projected Employment Rates in the United States,
within age group, 2007 and 2020
100%
76 75
80%
60%
40%
84 83
84 84 84 84 84 83
84 83
81 83
72
75
52
45 42
56
20%
0%
14
15-19
20-24
25-29 30-34
35-39
2007
40-44 45-49
50-54
55-59 60-64
16
65+
2020
Source: International Labor Organization14
4
Figure 7: Current and Projected Percentage of the Population in the US Labor force,
within age groups, 2007 and 2020
2020 Female
3.3
2020 Male
4.0
2007 Female
3.6
2007 Male
4.3
0%
30.4
24.6
31.8
24.0
38.1
27.1
40.3
10%
20%
Under 20
28.0
30%
40%
20 - 44
50%
60%
70%
80%
45 and up
Source: International Labor Organization14
Economic Highlights
àà The 2006 estimate of the gross national product per capita in the United States was
$43,500.8
Country Profile: United States
àà The gross domestic product of the United States grew by 3.9 percent in 2004 and 3.2 percent
in 2005.8
àà The United States debt as a percentage of GDP has fluctuated over the past 15 years, lowest
at 55.2 in 2000 and highest at 71.9 in 1993.5
Figure 8: GDP Growth in the United States, 1990 - 2005
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
-1%
-2%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
United States
Source: 2007 OECD Factbook8
5
Figure 9: National debt as a percentage of GDP, selected high GNI countries, 1990-2005
200%
150%
100%
50%
0%
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Japan
Netherlands
United Kingdom
United States
Source: 2007 OECD Factbook8
Demographic Highlights
Country Profile: United States
àà In 2007, the United States population was 301,139,947.1
àà The median age of the United States population in 2007 was 36.6 years, or 35.3 years for men
and 37.9 years for women.1
Figure 10: Median Age, selected countries, 2007
37.9
Female
45.3
44.3
United States
35.3
Male
41.7
41.8
Japan
Germany
36.6
Total
0%
43.5
43
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Source: 2007 OECD Factbook8
6
àà The life expectancy at birth for the United States population was 78.0 years in 2007, 75.1
years for men and 80.97 years for women.1
Figure 11: Life Expectancy at Birth, selected countries, 2007
81.0
85.6
80.9
Female
United States
75.1
78.7
73.8
Male
Japan
Germany
78.0
82.0
77.2
Total
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: The World Factbook 20078
Country Profile: United States
àà Eighty-one percent of the population was white, 12.9 percent was black, and 4.2 percent
was Asian, with the remaining population being of Amerindian, Alaskan, Hawaiian, or Pacific
islander native descent.1
àà The fertility rate in the United States was 2.09 children per woman as of 2007.1
àà In the United States, 10.7 percent of the male population and 14.3 percent of the female
population is 65 or older.13
Figure 11a : Population Distribution by age, United States, 2007
Male
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
Female
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
3%
2%
1%
0%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
% of Population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau13
7
àà In comparison:
In Japan, 18.2 percent of the male population and 23.7 percent of the female population
is 65 or older.
In France, 13.7 percent of the male population and 18.5 percent of the female
population is 65 or older.
In Germany, 16.7 percent of the male population and 22.8 percent of the female
population is 65 or older.
Figure 11b: Population Distribution by age, Japan, 2007
Male
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
8%
10%
Country Profile: United States
10%
Female
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
% of Population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau13
Figure 11c: Population Distribution by age, Germany, 2007
Male
10%
8%
6%
Female
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
4%
2%
0%
0%
2%
4%
6%
% of Population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau13
8
àà Based on current population distributions, the United States expects less rapid population
aging than countries with comparable GDP, such as Japan, France, and Germany.13
Figure 11d: Population Distribution by age, France, 2007
Male
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
Female
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
3%
2%
1%
0%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
% of Population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau13
Established in 2008 by the Center on Aging & Work, the Global Perspectives
Institute is an international collaboration of scholars and employers committed
to the expansion of the quality of employment available to the 21st century
multi-generational workforce in countries around the world.
The Global Perspectives Institute focuses on innovative and promising practices
that might be adopted by employers and policy-makers.
Country Profile Team
Tay McNamara,
Research Director
Vanessa Careiro,
Research Assistant
Daniel Mak,
Research Assistant
Global Perspectives Institute
The Institute’s research, publications, and international forums contribute to:
àà a deeper understanding of the employment experiences and career
aspirations of employees of different ages who work in countries
around the world;
àà informed decision making by employers who want to be employers-ofchoice in different countries; and
àà innovative thinking about private-public partnerships that promote
sustainable, quality employment.
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes,
Director
Ariane Ollier-Malaterre,
Associate Director
Matt Flynn,
Policy Perspectives Team Leader
Michael Smyer,
Employer Perspectives
Team Leader
Celina Pagani-Tousignant,
Corporate Liaison
9
Country Profile: United States
About the Institute
References
1
Central Intelligence Agency, United States of America. (n.d.). The World Factbook 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007 from www.cia.gov/library/
publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
2
Toosi, M. (2002). A century of change: the U.S. Labor force, 1950-2050. Monthly Labor Review, 125 (May), 15-28.
3
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. Retrieved January 11, 2008
from http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost.
4
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008). The Employment Situation: December 2007. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/
pdf/empsit.pdf
5
Bureau of Labor Statistics, (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm#tables
6
Karoly, L. A., & Zissimopoulos, J. (2004). Self-employment among older U.S. workings. Monthly labor review: 24-47. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2004/07/art3full.pdf
7
Statistics Canada (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http:/www.statcan.ca/
8
OECD. (n.d.). OECD Factbook 2007— Economic, Environmental, and Social Statistics. Retrieved June 12, 2007 from http://stats.oecd.org/
9
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (n.d.) Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/
United Kingdom Office of National Statistics. Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
11
Statistics Bureau & Statistical Research and Training Institute, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (n.d.). Statistical Handbook of Japan.
Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/
12
International Labor Organization. Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http://www.ilo.org/
13
United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 14, 2007 from http://www.census.gov
The Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, funded by
the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is a unique research center
established in 2005. The Center works in partnership with
decision-makers at the workplace to design and implement
rigorous investigations that will help the American business
community prepare for the opportunities and challenges
associated with the aging workforce. The Center focuses on
flexible work options because these are a particularly important
element of innovative employer responses to the aging
workforce. The studies conducted by the Center are examining
employers’ adoption of a range of flexible work options, the
implementation of them at the workplace, their use by older
workers, and their impact on business and older workers.
The Center’s multi-disciplinary core research team is
comprised of more than 20 social scientists from disciplines
including economics, social work, psychology, and sociology.
The investigators have strong expertise
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Country Profile: United States
10