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
In 2025, labor force participation rate in United Kingdom stood at 61.4%.
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.
That places United Kingdom 95th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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).