The bar graph illustrates the employment rates for males and females aged 60-64 in four countries in 1970 and 2000. Overall, while men consistently outnumbered their counterparts in terms of employment across all countries, they experienced significant declines, whereas women saw only marginal or mixed changes.
In 1970, the proportion of employed men in their 60s was highest in Japan compared to the other countries, at staggering 85%. This figure decreased to 74% by 2000, yet it was still the highest among all the nations. Following closely behind were Belgium and Australia, with employment rate of 79% and 76% respectively. However, both countries experienced sharp declines, with Australia’s rate falling to 47% and Belgium’s to 19%. The USA came last, with 73% of its older population working, although it saw a comparatively small decrease of 18 per cent.
In contrast, the employment pattern for women aged 60-64 was noticeably more stable. Japan dominated in this category too, with 43% of elderly women working, a figure which then fell by 3 percent by 2000. Unlike Japan, both the USA and Australia saw modest growth in female employment among those in their 60s, with rising from 36% to 39% and 16% to 18% respectively. At the lower end was Belgium, where the figure dropped slightly from 8% to 7%.