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In January 2013, among countries covered by the BLS international comparisons program, Italy (11.8 percent ) and France (10.3 percent) had the highest unemployment rates. Japan had the lowest unemployment rate (3.9 percent). Concepts and definitions of unemployment in labor force surveys may differ from country to country, and BLS adjusts the estimates from some countries to make them more comparable with U.S. concepts and definitions.
United States | Canada | Australia | Japan (2) | France | Germany (1) | Italy | Netherlands | Sweden | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2007 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 6.5 |
Feb 2007 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
Mar 2007 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.8 | 6.3 |
Apr 2007 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 6.1 |
May 2007 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 5.9 |
Jun 2007 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 3.5 | 6.2 |
Jul 2007 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 5.9 |
Aug 2007 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 5.9 |
Sep 2007 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
Oct 2007 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
Nov 2007 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 6.1 | 3.4 | 5.9 |
Dec 2007 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 6.5 | 3.3 | 5.8 |
Jan 2008 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 3.3 | 6.0 |
Feb 2008 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 5.7 |
Mar 2008 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 5.6 |
Apr 2008 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 5.5 |
May 2008 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 5.6 |
Jun 2008 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 3.1 | 6.2 |
Jul 2008 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 6.0 |
Aug 2008 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 5.9 |
Sep 2008 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 6.3 |
Oct 2008 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 6.3 |
Nov 2008 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 6.8 |
Dec 2008 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 6.8 |
Jan 2009 | 7.8 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 3.1 | 6.7 |
Feb 2009 | 8.3 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 7.6 |
Mar 2009 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 3.3 | 7.8 |
Apr 2009 | 9.0 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 7.8 |
May 2009 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 9.3 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 8.8 |
Jun 2009 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 9.3 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 3.6 | 8.4 |
Jul 2009 | 9.5 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 3.8 | 8.4 |
Aug 2009 | 9.6 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 9.3 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 3.9 | 8.6 |
Sep 2009 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 8.6 |
Oct 2009 | 10.0 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 9.7 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 4.1 | 8.6 |
Nov 2009 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 9.8 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 8.6 |
Dec 2009 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 8.9 |
Jan 2010 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 9.6 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 4.6 | 8.9 |
Feb 2010 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 4.5 | 8.8 |
Mar 2010 | 9.9 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 4.5 | 8.8 |
Apr 2010 | 9.9 | 7.2 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.3 | 8.8 | 4.5 | 9.1 |
May 2010 | 9.6 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 8.7 | 4.5 | 8.7 |
Jun 2010 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 8.3 |
Jul 2010 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 8.6 |
Aug 2010 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 8.4 |
Sep 2010 | 9.5 | 7.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 8.3 |
Oct 2010 | 9.5 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 8.7 | 4.4 | 8.1 |
Nov 2010 | 9.8 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 4.4 | 8.0 |
Dec 2010 | 9.3 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 8.0 |
Jan 2011 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 9.2 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 4.3 | 7.9 |
Feb 2011 | 9.0 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 4.3 | 7.7 |
Mar 2011 | 8.9 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.1 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 7.9 |
Apr 2011 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 4.2 | 7.7 |
May 2011 | 9.0 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 7.7 |
Jun 2011 | 9.1 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 4.2 | 7.8 |
Jul 2011 | 9.0 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 7.7 |
Aug 2011 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 4.4 | 7.6 |
Sep 2011 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 3.9 | 9.3 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 7.4 |
Oct 2011 | 8.9 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 9.4 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 4.8 | 7.8 |
Nov 2011 | 8.6 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.5 | 5.8 | 9.4 | 5.0 | 7.5 |
Dec 2011 | 8.5 | 6.6 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.6 | 5.7 | 9.6 | 4.9 | 7.6 |
Jan 2012 | 8.3 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 9.7 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 5.0 | 7.9 |
Feb 2012 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.7 | 5.7 | 10.2 | 4.9 | 7.7 |
Mar 2012 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.7 | 5.7 | 10.5 | 5.0 | 7.6 |
Apr 2012 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 5.7 | 10.7 | 5.3 | 7.5 |
May 2012 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 9.9 | 5.7 | 10.5 | 5.2 | 8.0 |
Jun 2012 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 9.9 | 5.7 | 10.8 | 5.2 | 7.6 |
Jul 2012 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 3.9 | 10.0 | 5.7 | 10.7 | 5.3 | 7.8 |
Aug 2012 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 10.0 | 5.8 | 10.7 | 5.3 | 8.0 |
Sep 2012 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 10.0 | 5.8 | 11.0 | 5.4 | 8.0 |
Oct 2012 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 10.1 | 5.8 | 11.3 | 5.5 | 7.9 |
Nov 2012 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 10.1 | 5.8 | 11.3 | 5.6 | 8.3 |
Dec 2012 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 10.2 | 5.8 | 11.4 | 5.9 | 7.9 |
Jan 2013 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 10.3 | 5.8 | 11.8 | 6.0 | 7.9 |
Footnotes: |
From January 2012 to January 2013, Italy experienced the largest increase in its unemployment rate (+2.1 percentage points), followed by the Netherlands (+1.0 percentage point), and France (+0.6 percentage point). Over that same period, Canada experienced the largest decrease in its unemployment rate (−0.5 percentage points), followed by the United States (−0.4 percentage point).
These data are from the International Labor Comparisons program. To learn more, see "International Unemployment rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted, 2008–2012" (HTML) (PDF) (XLS). For further information on comparability issues, see "International unemployment rates: how comparable are they?," by Constance Sorrentino, in the June 2000 issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, International unemployment rates, January 2013 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20130308.htm (visited October 10, 2024).