Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 62.84 in 2025. β² Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Kingdom, 1961β2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Kingdom is 62.84, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Kingdom peaked at 63.02 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 47.05, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 102nd out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 61.41 | 60.97 | 61.85 | 2 |
| 1970s | 51.76 | 47.1 | 61.04 | 3 |
| 1980s | 59.31 | 47.05 | 62.88 | 9 |
| 1990s | 62.02 | 61.57 | 63.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.1 | 61.55 | 62.58 | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.52 | 62.12 | 62.94 | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.39 | 62.04 | 62.84 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 76.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Kingdom?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Kingdom was 62.84 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 63.02 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.05 in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United Kingdom ranks 102nd out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.