Labor force participation rate in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labor force participation rate was 61.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
61.4%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
95th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.6%
in 2019
All-time low
60.6%
in 1995
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in United Kingdom, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 61.4% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in United Kingdom peaked at 62.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 60.6%, in 1995.
United Kingdom ranks 95th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62.4% | — |
| 1991 | 62.0% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 61.5% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 61.0% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 60.8% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 60.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 60.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 61.1% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 61.3% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 61.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 61.3% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 61.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 61.4% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 61.7% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 62.1% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 61.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 62.2% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 62.0% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 61.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 61.8% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 62.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 62.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 62.1% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 62.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 62.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 62.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 62.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 62.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 62.6% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 62.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 61.9% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 61.8% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 61.6% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 61.4% | -0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 61.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 99% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 61.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.2% | 60.6% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.6% | 61.0% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.2% | 61.8% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.9% | 61.4% | 62.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 92 United States 61.7% compare
- 93 Mexico 61.6% compare
- 94 Luxembourg 61.5% compare
- 96 Philippines 61.4% compare
- 97 Russia 61.1% compare
- 98 Hungary 60.6% compare
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in United Kingdom?
- Labor force participation rate in United Kingdom was 61.4% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 62.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.6% in 1995.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labor force participation rate?
- United Kingdom ranks 95th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).