Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada
Canada: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 65.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada is 65.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada peaked at 67.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 54.0%, in 1961.
Canada ranks 73rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 54.0% | — |
| 1971 | 58.0% | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 61.5% | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 62.7% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 63.7% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 64.3% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 65.0% | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 64.4% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 64.7% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 65.0% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 65.6% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 66.1% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 66.5% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 67.3% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 67.1% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 66.6% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 65.7% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 65.3% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 65.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 64.8% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 64.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 64.9% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 65.1% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 65.5% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 65.8% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 65.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 66.9% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 67.6% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 67.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 67.1% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 67.2% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 67.6% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 67.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 66.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 66.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 66.2% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 66.1% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 65.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 66.0% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 65.8% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 66.0% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 64.4% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 65.5% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 65.8% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 65.5% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 65.3% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 61.6% | 58.0% | 63.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 65.6% | 64.3% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 65.5% | 64.7% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.0% | 65.8% | 67.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.3% | 65.8% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.3% | 64.4% | 65.8% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Canada was 65.3% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 67.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.0% in 1961.
- How does Canada rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Canada ranks 73rd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, total (% of total 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.