Labor force participation rate in Canada
Canada: Labor force participation rate was 64.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
64.5%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
69th
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.3%
in 2008
All-time low
64.1%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Canada, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Canada stood at 64.5%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Canada peaked at 67.3% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 64.1%, in 2020.
That places Canada 69th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.8% | — |
| 1991 | 66.2% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 65.3% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 64.9% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 64.8% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 64.4% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 64.2% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 64.4% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 64.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 65.1% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 65.3% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 65.4% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 66.4% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 67.1% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 67.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 66.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 66.8% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.1% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 67.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 67.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 66.7% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 66.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 66.6% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 66.5% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 66.0% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 65.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 65.6% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 65.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 65.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 65.8% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 64.1% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 65.2% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 65.2% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 65.4% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 64.7% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 64.5% | -0.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 64.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.1% | 64.2% | 66.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.6% | 65.3% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.1% | 65.5% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.9% | 64.1% | 65.4% | 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 in Canada?
- Labor force participation rate in Canada was 64.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 67.3% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.1% in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for labor force participation rate?
- Canada ranks 69th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).