Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members
OECD members: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 61.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members, 1979–2025
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 OECD members is 61.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members peaked at 61.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 56.9%, in 1979.
OECD members ranks 13th of 33 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 56.9% | — |
| 1980 | 58.0% | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 59.7% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 59.6% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 59.9% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 60.2% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 60.4% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 60.9% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 59.5% | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 61.1% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 61.5% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 61.4% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 61.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 61.0% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 61.0% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 61.0% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 61.1% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 60.4% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 60.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 60.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 60.2% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 60.2% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 60.3% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 60.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 60.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 60.3% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 60.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 59.2% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 60.6% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 61.0% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 61.1% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 61.1% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.9% | 56.9% | 56.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 59.8% | 58.0% | 60.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 61.0% | 59.5% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.2% | 60.0% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.3% | 60.1% | 60.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.5% | 59.2% | 61.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More work & labour data for OECD members
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 53.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 43.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in OECD members was 61.1% 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 OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.9% in 1979.
- How does OECD members rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- OECD members ranks 13th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this OECD members 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.