Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 81.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 81.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland peaked at 90.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 77.7%, in 2020.
That places Ireland 55th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 90.0% | — |
| 1991 | 90.0% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 87.5% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 87.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 87.3% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 87.0% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 87.5% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 86.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 86.5% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 86.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 86.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 85.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 84.7% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 84.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 85.3% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 85.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 84.7% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 83.6% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 80.7% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 78.7% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 78.0% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 77.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 78.3% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 78.6% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 79.0% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 78.8% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 78.8% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 79.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 77.7% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 79.6% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 81.1% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 83.2% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 81.7% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 81.5% | -0.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 81.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 81.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 79.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 87.5% | 86.0% | 90.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.6% | 77.8% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.8% | 77.7% | 83.2% | 6 |
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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Ireland was 81.5% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.7% in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Ireland ranks 55th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.