Labor force participation rate in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate was 64.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
64.8%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
62nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
66.6%
in 2007
All-time low
60.2%
in 1992
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Ireland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Ireland is 64.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Ireland peaked at 66.6% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 60.2%, in 1992.
Ireland ranks 62nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 60.5% | — |
| 1991 | 60.9% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 60.2% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 60.8% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 61.3% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 61.7% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 62.9% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 62.4% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 63.3% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 63.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 64.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 64.4% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 64.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 64.4% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 65.7% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 66.1% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 66.6% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 65.9% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 64.1% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 62.6% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 61.9% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 61.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 61.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 61.7% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 61.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 62.1% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 61.9% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 62.1% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 62.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 61.1% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 63.5% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 64.4% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 66.2% | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 65.0% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 64.8% | -0.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 64.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 64.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.8% | 60.2% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.0% | 64.1% | 66.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.0% | 61.6% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.2% | 61.1% | 66.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 59 Saudi Arabia 65.1% compare
- 60 Uruguay 65.0% compare
- 61 Denmark 64.9% compare
- 63 Dominican Republic 64.8% compare
- 64 Bhutan 64.8% compare
- 65 Guinea-Bissau 64.8% compare
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate in Ireland was 64.8% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 66.6% in 2007.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.2% in 1992.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate?
- Ireland ranks 62nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland 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).