Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 71.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 71.4% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland peaked at 78.7% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 71.4%, in 2025.
Switzerland ranks 83rd 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.6% | — |
| 1991 | 78.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 78.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 78.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 76.9% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 77.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 78.7% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 78.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 78.4% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 77.7% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 77.4% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 76.7% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 76.7% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 75.9% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 75.0% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 75.3% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 75.7% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 75.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 75.2% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 74.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 74.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 74.2% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 74.3% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 74.6% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 74.5% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 74.3% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.7% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 73.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 73.0% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 72.4% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 72.7% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 71.8% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 71.4% | -0.6% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 71.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 71.4% 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% | 78.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.1% | 75.0% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.4% | 73.7% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 71.4% | 73.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More work & labour data for Switzerland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0651 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0485 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0817 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 8,038 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,842 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,568 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,558 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,126 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland was 71.4% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 78.7% in 1996.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.4% in 2025.
- How does Switzerland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Switzerland ranks 83rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.