Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America
North America: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 62.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America stood at 62.0%.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America peaked at 66.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 61.8%, in 2020.
North America ranks 21st of 47 groups 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.4% | — |
| 1991 | 65.1% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 65.3% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 65.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 65.4% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 65.6% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 65.9% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 65.9% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 66.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 66.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 65.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 65.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 65.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 65.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 65.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 65.3% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 65.2% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 65.2% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 64.6% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 64.0% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 63.6% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 63.5% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 63.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 62.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 62.6% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 62.8% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 62.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 62.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 63.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 61.8% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 61.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 62.2% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 62.4% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 62.3% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 62.0% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.5% | 65.1% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.4% | 64.6% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.1% | 62.6% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.1% | 61.8% | 62.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
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 for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (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)
- 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, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) 9.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North America was 62.0% 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 15+) recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 66.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.8% in 2020.
- How does North America rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- North America ranks 21st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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+) (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.