Maybe total employment percentage is an antiquated measurement and doesn't take into account the full measure of valuable things people do all day. On the other hand, it is a measure of societal engagement with activities significant to sustaining it. A society that promotes human flourishing is one that engages every person in the act of serving others to each person's highest ability, aspiration and need.
Is the best generalizable statistic to measure societal engagement "jobs?" No, there are many vocations that don't get counted as "jobs" for government statistics. And given the dematerialization of culture maybe jobs as a concept are on their way out. In the short run the percentage of people employed is a statistic that can inform those interested that many people who were formerly engaged with society in the mode called a job are no longer. Many people who had an identity in some occupation are effectively being told that society does not want or need their effort. I think that is not helpful in developing humanity.
Is the best generalizable statistic to measure societal engagement "jobs?" No, there are many vocations that don't get counted as "jobs" for government statistics. And given the dematerialization of culture maybe jobs as a concept are on their way out. In the short run the percentage of people employed is a statistic that can inform those interested that many people who were formerly engaged with society in the mode called a job are no longer. Many people who had an identity in some occupation are effectively being told that society does not want or need their effort. I think that is not helpful in developing humanity.