Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … male modeled in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … male modeled was 79.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 79.9% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom peaked at 86.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 79.9%, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom 72nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … male modeled in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 86.7% | — |
| 1991 | 86.1% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 85.0% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 83.9% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 83.5% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 82.9% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 82.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 82.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 82.5% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 81.9% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 81.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 81.9% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 81.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 81.9% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 81.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 82.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 81.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 81.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 81.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 81.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 81.4% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 81.6% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 81.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 81.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 82.2% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 81.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 80.3% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 80.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 80.0% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 79.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 100% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 79.9% 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 | 83.8% | 82.3% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.8% | 81.5% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.6% | 81.0% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.5% | 79.9% | 81.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom was 79.9% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 86.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.9% in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- United Kingdom ranks 72nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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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.