Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America
North America: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 74.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North America recorded 74.4% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America peaked at 76.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 72.3%, in 2015.
That places North America 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 75.4% | — |
| 1991 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 75.4% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 75.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 75.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 75.6% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 75.7% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 76.0% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 76.0% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 76.0% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 75.9% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 75.6% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 75.3% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 74.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 74.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 74.5% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 74.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 74.4% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 73.7% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 73.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 72.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 72.6% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 72.4% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 72.3% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 72.6% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 73.0% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 73.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.7% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 72.5% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 73.0% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 73.6% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 74.3% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 74.4% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 74.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.6% | 75.2% | 76.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 74.7% | 73.7% | 75.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.8% | 72.3% | 73.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.7% | 72.5% | 74.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 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
- 7 Netherlands 85.6% compare
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 85.0% compare
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (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, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (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)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 0.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in North America was 74.4% 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 76.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.3% in 2015.
- How does North America rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- North America ranks 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, 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.