Band 5+: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The graph below shows the average retirement age of males and females in six countries in 2003. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The table displays the average age of retirement of men and women of 6 countries in 2003: Australia, United State, Japan, Italy, France and Korea.

Overall, male workers have the higher retiring age compared to women. In Korea, the median age the workforce drop out of work is the highest, while French workers have the smallest age.

As can be seen from the graph, Korean men retired when they were 68 years old and 8 months, followed by Japan and Italy when they were 67 years old and 4 months. American male workforce stepped out the labor market when they reached 65 years old and 6 months. In 2003, Australia men stopped working at the age of 64 years old and 1 month, as the second lowest age for laboring. France has the youngest average age of working, with only 57 years old and 4 months.

In term of women, just like their male counterpart, France possessed the lowest work age, 56 years old and 9 months. The oldest female workers’ age belong to Korea, which is 67 years old and 2 months, almost similar to men in Japan and Italy. Meanwhile, Japanese and Italian female workers has the retiring age of 66 years old and 9 months. Followed closely to these countries, USA women labor market can retire at the age of 64 years old and 2 months, while it was 63 years old and 5 months for Australia.