Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America
North America: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 67.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America stood at 67.3%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America peaked at 75.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 67.3%, in 2025.
That places North America 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 75.2% | — |
| 1991 | 74.7% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 74.2% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 73.9% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 73.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 73.8% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 73.9% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 73.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 73.7% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 73.7% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 73.3% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 73.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 72.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 72.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 72.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 72.1% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 71.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 70.9% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 69.8% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 69.7% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 69.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 69.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 69.0% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 68.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 68.9% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 67.6% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 67.8% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 67.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 67.6% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 67.3% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.2% | 73.7% | 75.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.4% | 70.9% | 73.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.3% | 68.9% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.6% | 67.3% | 67.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 0.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in North America was 67.3% 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 75.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.3% in 2025.
- How does North America rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- North America ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America 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.
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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.