The employment rate of 25- to 54-year olds as an indicator of countries’ capacity to create jobs

The employment rate of 15- to 24-year olds varies with the lengthening of studies , and the employment rate of 55- to 64-year olds varies with retirement rules (the retirement age). We can therefore consider that it is the employment rate of 25- to 54-year olds that shows to what degree a country is able to create jobs. When we look at the situations of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Japan from this viewpoint, we see that the employment rate of 25- to 54-year olds is High in Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom; Intermediate in France and the United States; Low in Spain and Italy. What can account for a low capacity to create jobs? Deindustrialisation? It does not explain the situation of Italy and the United Kingdom; The level high of companies’ social contributions? It does not explain the situations of France and the United States. The most appropriate explanation of the employment rate of 25- to 54-year olds is labour force and youth skills.