Access to paid work is crucial for people’s ability to support themselves. On average, two out of three working age adults in the OECD area are employed (, Panel A). In Iceland and Switzerland about eight out of ten are employed, compared to about one out of two in Greece and Turkey. Gender differences in employment rates are small in the Nordic countries, but such differences tend to be largest in Chile, Korea, Mexico and Turkey.

Record high unemployment rates in a number of countries have put stress on the benefit systems (see Recipients of out-of-work benefits indicator). Unemployment, and particularly long-term unemployment, may also harm career chances in the future, reduce life satisfaction and increase social costs. Establishment in the labour market for youth has become more difficult, while older unemployed often have problems re-entering the workforce.

Participation in employment, education or training is important for youth to become established in the labour market and achieve self-sufficiency. Record high unemployment rates in a number of countries have hit youth especially hard. In addition, inactivity rates of youth are substantial in many countries, meaning that they are neither employed, nor registered as unemployed, in education or in training.

The duration of expected years in retirement illustrates the length of the expected remaining life expectancy from the time of average labour market exit. The indicator demonstrates how pension systems interact with labour market exit as well as the financial pressures on the pension system in the context of an ageing population. Men typically can expect to spend fewer years in retirement than women (). The most recent calculations of expected years in retirement exceeded 25 years for women in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg (, Panel A). The period exceeded 20 years for men in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain (, Panel B). The number of expected years in retirement was notably low for women – under 20 years – in Chile, Iceland, Korea, Mexico, Portugal and Turkey, and for men – less than 15 years – in Estonia, Korea, Mexico and Portugal.

On average, OECD countries spent USD 9 300 per child per year from primary through tertiary education in 2010 (, Panel A). Spending was highest in the United States with just over USD 15 000 per child, followed closely by Switzerland. On the opposite end, spending was USD 5 000 or less in Chile and Mexico. Spending was also relatively low (around USD 6 000) in several Eastern European countries.