The bar charts illustrate the proportion of men and women aged 60 to 64 who were employed in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in 1970 and 2000.
Overall, it is evident that employment among older people declined in all four countries over the thirty-year period, with Belgium experiencing the steepest fall. While men consistently had higher employment rates than women, the gender gap widened in some nations by 2000.
In 1970, Belgium had around 78% of men and 60% of women working, but these figures dropped dramatically to approximately 50% and just 5% respectively by 2000. Similarly, Japan recorded nearly 78% of men and 50% of women employed in 1970, before declining to about 60% and 40%.
The USA, on the other hand, showed relative stability for men, with employment hovering at around 80% across both years. However, the proportion of working women fell significantly from nearly 70% in 1970 to around 40% in 2000. In Indonesia, employment rates also decreased, though less sharply, from 80% to 75% for men and from 60% to 45% for women.
In summary, elderly employment declined across all four nations, most markedly in Belgium, while the USA showed resilience in male employment but a notable fall among females.