Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 79.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union is 79.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union peaked at 79.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 75.7%, in 1996.
That places European Union 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 77.7% | — |
| 1991 | 77.6% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 76.8% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 76.4% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 76.1% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 75.7% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 75.7% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 75.7% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 75.8% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 75.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 75.8% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 75.7% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 75.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 76.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 76.5% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 76.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 76.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 77.0% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 76.6% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 76.7% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 76.5% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 76.9% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 77.1% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 77.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 77.5% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 77.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 78.1% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 78.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 78.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 78.1% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 78.7% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 79.4% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 79.8% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 79.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 79.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.3% | 75.7% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.3% | 75.7% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.5% | 76.5% | 78.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.3% | 78.1% | 79.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 8 Madagascar 89.2% compare
- 9 Netherlands 89.0% compare
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 88.1% compare
- 11 Bahrain 87.9% compare
- 12 Malta 87.6% compare
- 13 Japan 87.5% compare
- 14 Solomon Islands 87.4% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 12.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in European Union was 79.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 79.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.7% in 1996.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- European Union ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.