Labor force participation rate in Italy
Italy: Labor force participation rate was 49.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate in Italy, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Italy recorded 49.3% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Italy peaked at 50.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, in 1995.
That places Italy 160th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.1% | 46.9% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 47.8% | 49.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 47.9% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 48.2% | 49.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 58.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 70.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 66.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Italy?
- Labor force participation rate in Italy was 49.3% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.9% in 1995.
- How does Italy rank for labor force participation rate?
- Italy ranks 160th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).