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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 85.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 77.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 73.0% (2025)
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).