Labour force participation rate in Canada
Canada: Labour force participation rate was 65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
8th
of 33 countries
All-time high
67.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup
in 2008
All-time low
61.51 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup
in 1976
Years of data
50
1976–2025
Labour force participation rate in Canada, 1976–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, labour force participation rate in Canada stood at 65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate in Canada peaked at 67.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2008 and was at its lowest, 61.51 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup, in 1976.
Canada ranks 8th of 33 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Labour force participation rate in Canada, year by year
| Year | Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 61.51 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1977 | 61.86 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 62.74 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 63.66 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 64.27 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 65.04 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 64.39 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 64.72 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 65.04 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 65.65 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 66.11 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 66.47 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 66.85 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 67.25 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 67.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 66.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 65.7 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 65.34 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 65.16 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 64.81 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 64.67 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 64.88 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 65.12 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 65.53 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 65.77 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 65.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 66.86 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 67.57 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 67.49 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 67.14 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 67.19 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.46 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 67.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 67.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 67.06 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 66.82 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 66.72 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 66.7 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 66.18 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 66.05 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 65.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 65.97 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 65.78 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 66.02 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 64.37 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 65.44 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 65.48 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 65.79 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 65.47 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.09 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62.44 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 61.51 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 63.66 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 4 |
| 1980s | 65.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 64.27 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 67.25 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 65.5 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 64.67 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 67.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.03 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 65.77 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 67.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.31 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 65.78 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 67.06 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.31 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 64.37 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 65.79 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 5 Australia 66.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 5 Slovenia 58.5 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Ireland 66.12 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 7 Norway 65.5 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 7 Poland 58.08 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 9 Denmark 65.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 9 Türkiye 53.52 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Colombia 64.3 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
- 11 Japan 63.87 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate in Canada?
- Labour force participation rate in Canada was 65.28 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 67.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2008.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.51 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 1976.
- How does Canada rank for labour force participation rate?
- Canada ranks 8th out of 33 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the labour force participation rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the labour force participation rate by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The labour force participation rate is calculated as the number of the labour force population as a percentage of the working age population. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.