Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force with basic education was 29.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in Ireland, 1992–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force with basic education in Ireland stood at 29.6%.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in Ireland peaked at 51.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2020.
That places Ireland 107th out of 125 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Labor force with basic education in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of total working-age population with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 42.8% | — |
| 1993 | 42.3% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 42.2% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 41.7% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 42.1% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 42.3% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 51.6% | +22.1% |
| 2000 | 48.0% | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 51.1% | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 41.3% | -19.2% |
| 2003 | 41.0% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 41.1% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 41.8% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 42.0% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 45.2% | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 43.6% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 40.1% | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 38.4% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 37.4% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 36.4% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 35.9% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 33.5% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 33.2% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 33.1% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 31.2% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 30.6% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 31.0% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 30.6% | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 29.9% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 32.3% | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 29.6% | -8.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 29.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 41.5%, 71% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 29.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.5%, 88% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.6% | 41.7% | 51.6% | 7 |
| 2000s | 43.5% | 40.1% | 51.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 30.6% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.2% | 28.7% | 32.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in Ireland?
- Labor force with basic education in Ireland was 29.6% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force with basic education?
- Ireland ranks 107th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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).