Band 8+: The bar charts compare the percentage of men and women aged 60 to 64 who were employed in four different countries in the years 1970 and 2000.

The bar charts compare the percentages of men and women aged 60-64 who were employed in Belgium, the USA, Japan and Australia in 1970 and 2000.

Overall, employment rates declined for men in all four countries, while the pattern for women was more unstable. Additionally, Japan stood out with the highest figures, regardless of gender.

With regard to males first, Japan had the highest percentage, at 85% at the beginning of the period. Despite declining to 74%, the rate remained comparatively high. Belgium experienced the most dramatic drop, from 79% to just 19%. Similarly, the USA saw a decrease from 73% to 55%, and Australia from 76% to 47%.

In contrast, the rate of female employment was much lower. In 1970, Japan had the highest proportion of working women aged 60-64 (43%), which then fell marginally to 40%. Belgium recorded far lower rates, with respective figures of 16% and 8%. Conversely, the USA had the second highest figure at 36% in 1970, and female employment rose slightly to 39%. A marginal increase was also observed in Australia, from 16% to 18%.