Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada
Canada: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 69.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada is 69.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada peaked at 78.4% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2020.
That places Canada 113th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 78.1% | — |
| 1971 | 76.4% | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 77.7% | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 77.6% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 77.9% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 78.4% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 78.3% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 78.4% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 77.0% | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 76.9% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 76.7% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 76.7% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 76.9% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 76.8% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 76.6% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 76.8% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 76.1% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 75.0% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 73.9% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 73.3% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 73.1% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 72.5% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 72.2% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 72.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 72.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 72.4% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 73.0% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 73.4% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 73.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 72.8% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 72.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 72.7% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 72.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 72.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 71.9% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 71.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 71.6% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 71.4% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 71.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 71.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.6% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 70.3% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 70.5% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 69.0% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 69.9% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 69.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 70.0% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 69.7% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 69.5% | -0.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 69.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 78.1% | 78.1% | 78.1% | 1 |
| 1970s | 77.6% | 76.4% | 78.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 77.1% | 76.6% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.3% | 72.1% | 76.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.8% | 72.3% | 73.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.1% | 70.3% | 71.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.6% | 69.0% | 70.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Canada was 69.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 78.4% in 1981.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Canada ranks 113th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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.