Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 58.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union stood at 58.3%. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union peaked at 58.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 54.6%, in 1983.
That places European Union 22nd out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 54.6% | — |
| 1984 | 55.0% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 54.9% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 55.4% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 55.4% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 55.8% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 55.8% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 55.1% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 55.7% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 56.8% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 56.4% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 56.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 56.5% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 56.3% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 55.4% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 55.5% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 55.9% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 55.7% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 55.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 55.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 55.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 55.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 56.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 56.3% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 56.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 56.7% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 56.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 56.8% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 56.8% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 57.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 57.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 57.1% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 57.2% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 57.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 57.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 57.2% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 58.1% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 58.2% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55.3% | 54.6% | 55.8% | 7 |
| 1990s | 56.0% | 55.1% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.0% | 55.6% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.1% | 56.8% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.7% | 56.7% | 58.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in European Union was 58.3% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 58.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.6% in 1983.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- European Union ranks 22nd out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union 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.