Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in European Union
European Union: Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) was 38.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in European Union, 1995–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
European Union recorded 38.0% for labor force with basic education in 2024.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in European Union peaked at 41.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 35.5%, in 2014.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of total working-age population with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 40.1% | — |
| 1996 | 40.4% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 39.2% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 40.3% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 41.4% | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 38.0% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 37.3% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 37.1% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 36.5% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 36.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 37.3% | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 37.2% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 37.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 36.8% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 36.3% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 36.8% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 35.5% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 37.5% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 37.2% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 37.5% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 37.2% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 36.8% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 37.2% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 38.0% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.3% | 39.2% | 41.4% | 5 |
| 2000s | 37.4% | 36.4% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.8% | 35.5% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 36.1% | 38.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in European Union?
- Labor force with basic education in European Union was 38.0% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 41.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.5% in 2014.
- How does European Union rank for labor force with basic education?
- European Union ranks 15th out of 19 groups with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).