Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America
North America: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 59.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America stood at 59.2%.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America peaked at 63.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 56.7%, in 2020.
North America ranks 21st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 60.5% | — |
| 1992 | 60.1% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 60.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 61.1% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 61.5% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 61.8% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 62.4% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 62.7% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 63.0% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 63.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 62.5% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 61.7% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 61.4% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 61.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 61.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 62.2% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 62.1% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 61.4% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 58.7% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 58.0% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 58.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 58.4% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 58.5% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 58.9% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 59.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 59.6% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 60.0% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 60.3% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 58.4% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 60.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 59.6% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 59.2% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.5% | 60.1% | 63.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 61.7% | 58.7% | 63.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.2% | 58.0% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.0% | 56.7% | 60.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in North America was 59.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.7% in 2020.
- How does North America rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- North America ranks 21st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.