Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United States
United States: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 61.24 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United States, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United States is 61.24, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United States peaked at 66.15 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 61.24, in 2027.
That places United States 94th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.29 | — |
| 1991 | 65 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 65.25 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 65.14 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 65.47 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 65.6 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 65.78 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 66.08 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 66.01 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 66.06 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 66.15 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 65.86 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 65.59 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 65.22 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 65 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 65.05 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 65.17 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 64.99 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 64.98 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 64.37 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 63.73 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 63.23 | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 63.11 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 62.73 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 62.45 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 62.27 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 62.43 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 62.55 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 62.59 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 62.85 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 61.56 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 61.5 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 61.79 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 62.08 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 61.96 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 61.7 | -0.4% |
| 2026 | 61.46 | -0.4% |
| 2027 | 61.24 | -0.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 61.24 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 98% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.57 | 65 | 66.08 | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.24 | 64.37 | 66.15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.79 | 62.27 | 63.73 | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.66 | 61.24 | 62.08 | 8 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 91 Belarus 61.65 compare
- 92 Mexico 61.54 compare
- 93 Philippines 61.27 compare
- 95 United Kingdom 60.91 compare
- 96 Luxembourg 60.79 compare
- 97 Hungary 60.49 compare
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United States?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United States was 61.24 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 66.15 in 2000.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.24 in 2027.
- How does United States rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- United States ranks 94th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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 participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. 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.