OECD countries’ growth depends on their ability to continue to drive up the participation rate
In the United States, the euro zone and Japan, the rise in the participation rate (the proportion of the working-age population in the labour market) is prolonging growth, even in a situation of low unemployment or full employment, thanks to the increase in potential growth. If the participation rate stopped rising, potential growth would fall from: 2.4% to 1.5% per year in the United States; 1.2% to 0.4% per year in the euro zone; 0.8% to -0.8% per year in Japan. How far can the participation rate in OECD countries rise? Its rise stems from 20-59 year olds in the United States, 60-64 year olds in the euro zone and all age brackets and women in Japan. Significant upside potential remains in the United States and the euro zone, but probably not in Japan.