Labor force participation rate by age in United States
United States: Labor force participation rate by age was 50.81 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in United States, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 50.81 for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in United States peaked at 61.35 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 49.02, in 2020.
That places United States 48th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.23 | 59.6 | 61.35 | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.76 | 51.73 | 59.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.19 | 49.93 | 50.82 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.4 | 49.02 | 51.14 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
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- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in United States?
- Labor force participation rate by age in United States was 50.81 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 61.35 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.02 in 2020.
- How does United States rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- United States ranks 48th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from 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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