Labor force participation rate in United States
United States: Labor force participation rate was 61.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in United States, 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 United States stood at 61.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in United States peaked at 66.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 61.5%, in 2021.
That places United States 92nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.6% | 65.0% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.2% | 64.4% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.8% | 62.3% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.8% | 61.5% | 62.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 89 El Salvador 62.1% compare
- 90 Zambia 61.9% compare
- 91 Argentina 61.9% compare
- 93 Mexico 61.6% compare
- 95 United Kingdom 61.4% compare
More work & labour data for United States
- 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+) 61.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in United States?
- Labor force participation rate in United States was 61.7% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 66.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.5% in 2021.
- How does United States rank for labor force participation rate?
- United States ranks 92nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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).