Employment in United States
United States: Employment was 163,493 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
163,493
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
3rd
of 174 countries
All-time high
163,493
in 2025
All-time low
57,038
in 1947
Years of data
76
1947–2025
Employment in United States, 1947–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in United States stood at 163,493. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in United States peaked at 163,493 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 57,038, in 1947.
That places United States 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Employment in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 57,038 | — |
| 1948 | 58,343 | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 57,651 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | 58,918 | +2.2% |
| 1951 | 59,961 | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 60,250 | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 61,179 | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 60,109 | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 62,170 | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 63,799 | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 64,071 | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 63,036 | -1.6% |
| 1959 | 64,630 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 65,778 | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 65,746 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | 66,702 | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 67,762 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 69,305 | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 71,088 | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 72,895 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 74,372 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 75,920 | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 77,902 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 78,678 | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 79,367 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 82,153 | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 85,064 | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 86,794 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 85,846 | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 88,752 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 92,017 | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 96,048 | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 98,824 | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 99,303 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 100,397 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 99,526 | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 100,834 | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 105,005 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 107,150 | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 109,597 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 112,440 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 114,968 | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 117,342 | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 118,793 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 117,718 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 118,492 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 120,259 | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 123,060 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 124,900 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 126,708 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 129,558 | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 131,463 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 133,488 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 137,736 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 139,252 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 141,730 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 144,427 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 146,047 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 145,362 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 139,877 | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 139,064 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 139,869 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 142,469 | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 143,929 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 146,305 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 148,834 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 151,436 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 153,337 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 155,761 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 157,538 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 147,795 | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 152,581 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 158,291 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 161,037 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 161,346 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 163,493 | +1.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 163,493 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,235, 73.1× the median. (72 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 57,677 | 57,038 | 58,343 | 3 |
| 1950s | 61,812 | 58,918 | 64,630 | 10 |
| 1960s | 70,747 | 65,746 | 77,902 | 10 |
| 1970s | 87,354 | 78,678 | 98,824 | 10 |
| 1980s | 106,656 | 99,303 | 117,342 | 10 |
| 1990s | 124,444 | 117,718 | 133,488 | 10 |
| 2000s | 142,062 | 137,736 | 146,047 | 7 |
| 2010s | 147,854 | 139,064 | 157,538 | 10 |
| 2020s | 157,424 | 147,795 | 163,493 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in United States?
- Employment in United States was 163,493 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 163,493 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,038 in 1947.
- How does United States rank for employment?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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