Labor force participation rate by age in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate by age was 50.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate by age in Japan, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Japan stood at 50.8%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Japan peaked at 50.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.5%, in 2012.
Japan ranks 49th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.1% | 44.1% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.9% | 43.5% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.1% | 41.5% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.3% | 48.5% | 50.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More work & labour data for Japan
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 82.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 87.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 52.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Japan?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Japan was 50.8% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.5% in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Japan ranks 49th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).