Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 70.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 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+) in Ireland is 70.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ireland peaked at 80.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 67.3%, in 2020.
Ireland ranks 89th of 187 countries on this measure, 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+) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 79.9% | — |
| 1991 | 80.0% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 78.1% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 77.8% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 77.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 77.7% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 78.2% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 76.9% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 77.3% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 77.1% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 77.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 76.9% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 76.1% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 75.7% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 75.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 76.5% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 76.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 76.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 75.2% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 72.3% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 69.2% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 68.7% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 68.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 68.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 69.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 69.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 68.5% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 68.5% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 68.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 67.3% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 69.4% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 70.0% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 72.4% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 70.4% | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 70.1% | -0.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 70.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 70.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.1% | 76.9% | 80.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.8% | 72.3% | 77.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.9% | 68.5% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 67.3% | 72.4% | 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+) in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ireland was 70.1% 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+) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.3% in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Ireland ranks 89th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.