Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 75.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union is 75.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union peaked at 75.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 66.0%, in 1995.
European Union ranks 3rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.2% | — |
| 1991 | 66.7% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 66.3% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 66.1% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 66.0% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 66.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 66.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 66.6% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 67.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 67.2% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 67.6% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 68.1% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 68.3% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 68.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 69.3% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 69.6% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 69.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 69.8% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 70.3% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 70.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 71.2% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 71.5% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 71.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 72.2% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 72.6% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 73.0% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 73.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 72.7% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 73.6% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 74.5% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 75.0% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 75.2% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 75.2% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.3% | 66.0% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.6% | 67.1% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.7% | 70.2% | 73.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.4% | 72.7% | 75.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 1 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 89.3% compare
- 2 Qatar 88.1% compare
- 3 Iceland 87.5% compare
- 4 Madagascar 86.9% compare
- 5 Cambodia 86.1% compare
- 6 Solomon Islands 85.8% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 12.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in European Union was 75.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 75.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.0% in 1995.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- European Union ranks 3rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (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 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.