Labor force participation rate in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Labor force participation rate was 42.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 42.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Puerto Rico peaked at 47.7% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 38.0%, in 2015.
Puerto Rico ranks 170th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.5% | 44.6% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.1% | 43.2% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.1% | 38.0% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.6% | 39.2% | 42.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More work & labour data for Puerto Rico
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- 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)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 49.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 16.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 27.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 42.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 21.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 63.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 74.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Puerto Rico?
- Labor force participation rate in Puerto Rico was 42.8% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.0% in 2015.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for labor force participation rate?
- Puerto Rico ranks 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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).