The line charts illustrate the percentage of men and women aged 50 to 60 who were employed in five different countries during the years 1990 and 2010.
Overall, there was a general trend of decreasing employment for men in this age group across most countries, while the proportion of employed women increased in all five nations over the two-decade period. Japan consistently recorded the highest employment rates for both genders.
In 1990, male employment ranged from 70% in Germany to 81% in Japan. By 2010, these figures had generally fallen, with Germany dropping to 68% and Japan to 79%. The USA saw a decline from 78% to 75%, and the UK experienced a similar fall from 74% to 72%. Australia also had a decrease, from 72% in 1990 to 70% in 2010.
Conversely, the proportion of employed women saw increases in every country. In 1990, women's employment varied from 55% in Germany to 62% in the USA. By 2010, these figures had risen, with Germany reaching 61% and the USA 68%. Japan's female employment went up from 59% to 66%, while the UK and Australia also recorded increases, reaching 65% and 63% respectively.