Labor force participation rate by age in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate by age was 53.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Ireland, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 53.6% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Ireland peaked at 84.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 43.7%, in 2020.
That places Ireland 37th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 84.6% | — |
| 1991 | 83.8% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 80.4% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 80.7% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 79.8% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 80.3% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 81.0% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 78.7% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 79.1% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 76.7% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 76.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 74.7% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 71.9% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 71.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 69.8% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 71.1% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 70.1% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 69.4% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 66.0% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 60.1% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 53.9% | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 51.4% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 50.3% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 49.9% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 48.1% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 47.4% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 50.5% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 46.7% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 47.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 43.7% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 51.8% | +18.6% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 57.1% | +11.0% |
| 2024 | 53.6% | -6.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 53.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 53.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.5% | 76.7% | 84.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.1% | 60.1% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.2% | 46.7% | 53.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.5% | 43.7% | 57.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Ireland was 53.6% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 84.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.7% in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Ireland ranks 37th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).