Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 72.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 72.0% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland peaked at 87.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 63.0%, in 1978.
That places Switzerland 84th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 87.2% | — |
| 1970 | 84.3% | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 63.0% | -25.3% |
| 1979 | 63.2% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 79.3% | +25.4% |
| 1985 | 66.2% | -16.5% |
| 1986 | 66.4% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 66.4% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 66.5% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 79.3% | +19.2% |
| 1991 | 78.7% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 78.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 78.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 76.9% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 77.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 78.8% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 78.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 77.8% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 77.4% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 76.7% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 76.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 76.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 75.1% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 75.4% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 75.8% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 75.5% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 74.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 74.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 74.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 74.2% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 74.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 74.5% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 74.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 73.4% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 72.9% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 72.4% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 72.9% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 72.2% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 72.0% | -0.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 72.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 72.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +25.4% | 63.2% | 79.3% |
| 1978 | -25.3% | 84.3% | 63.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 87.2% | 87.2% | 87.2% | 1 |
| 1970s | 70.2% | 63.0% | 84.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 69.0% | 66.2% | 79.3% | 5 |
| 1990s | 78.2% | 76.9% | 79.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.2% | 75.1% | 77.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.3% | 73.6% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.6% | 72.0% | 73.4% | 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 72.0% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 87.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.0% in 1978.
- How does Switzerland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Switzerland ranks 84th out of 196 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 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.