Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in European Union 28

European Union 28: Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) was 254,923 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
254,923
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
33rd
of 85 groups
All-time high
258,082
in 2023
All-time low
218,958
in 1990
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in European Union 28, 1990–2027

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1990200820271990: 219.0k1991: 220.9k1992: 220.6k1993: 220.4k1994: 221.0k1995: 221.0k1996: 222.0k1997: 222.9k1998: 223.9k1999: 225.4k2000: 226.4k2001: 227.2k2002: 229.3k2003: 231.6k2004: 233.4k2005: 236.0k2006: 238.3k2007: 239.8k2008: 242.0k2009: 242.0k2010: 243.2k2011: 243.8k2012: 245.5k2013: 246.1k2014: 246.8k2015: 247.7k2016: 248.9k2017: 250.3k2018: 251.4k2019: 252.5k2020: 250.2k2021: 252.3k2022: 255.6k2023: 258.1k2024: 258.1k2025: 257.0k2026: 255.9k2027: 254.9k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in European Union 28 is 254,923, measured in 2027.

That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in European Union 28 peaked at 258,082 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 218,958, in 1990.

That places European Union 28 33rd out of 85 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in European Union 28, year by year

Annual values for Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in European Union 28, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 218,958 —
1991 220,910 +0.9%
1992 220,550 -0.2%
1993 220,405 -0.1%
1994 220,957 +0.3%
1995 220,985 +0.0%
1996 221,967 +0.4%
1997 222,915 +0.4%
1998 223,858 +0.4%
1999 225,398 +0.7%
2000 226,441 +0.5%
2001 227,237 +0.4%
2002 229,330 +0.9%
2003 231,611 +1.0%
2004 233,384 +0.8%
2005 236,042 +1.1%
2006 238,319 +1.0%
2007 239,829 +0.6%
2008 242,023 +0.9%
2009 241,959 -0.0%
2010 243,172 +0.5%
2011 243,790 +0.3%
2012 245,478 +0.7%
2013 246,068 +0.2%
2014 246,780 +0.3%
2015 247,702 +0.4%
2016 248,907 +0.5%
2017 250,295 +0.6%
2018 251,394 +0.4%
2019 252,484 +0.4%
2020 250,250 -0.9%
2021 252,326 +0.8%
2022 255,578 +1.3%
2023 258,082 +1.0%
2024 258,063 -0.0%
2025 257,000 -0.4%
2026 255,902 -0.4%
2027 254,923 -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 221,690 218,958 225,398 10
2000s 234,618 226,441 242,023 10
2010s 247,607 243,172 252,484 10
2020s 255,266 250,250 258,082 8

Countries ranked near European Union 28

  1. 30 Spain 23,742 compare
  2. 31 Myanmar 23,310 compare
  3. 32 Argentina 22,928 compare
  4. 33 Canada 22,260 compare
  5. 34 Ukraine 20,539 compare
  6. 35 Peru 19,811 compare
  7. 36 Malaysia 19,353 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for European Union 28

All data for European Union 28 →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in European Union 28?
Labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in European Union 28 was 254,923 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in European Union 28?
The highest recorded value was 258,082 in 2023.
What is the lowest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in European Union 28?
The lowest recorded value was 218,958 in 1990.
How does European Union 28 rank for labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
European Union 28 ranks 33rd out of 85 groups with data for 2027.
Is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in European Union 28?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this European Union 28 data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in European Union 28. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/european-union-28-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.