Labour force participation rate in Italy
Italy: Labour force participation rate was 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labour force participation rate in Italy, 1998–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
Italy recorded 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup for labour force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate in Italy peaked at 49.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2018 and was at its lowest, 47.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup, in 1998.
That places Italy 33rd out of 33 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labour force participation rate in Italy, year by year
| Year | Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 47.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1999 | 48.05 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 48.33 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 48.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.85 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 49.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 49.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 49.1 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 49.08 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.75 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 49.1 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.48 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 48.23 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 48.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 49.1 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 48.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 49.08 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 48.95 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 49.52 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 49.83 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 49.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 48.52 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 48.55 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 49.1 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 49.88 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 49.83 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.09 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup, 80% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Italy's 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 61.5 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup, 81% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 47.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 48.05 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 48.33 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 49.58 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 48.15 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 49.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.3 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 48.52 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 49.9 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate in Italy?
- Labour force participation rate in Italy was 49.9 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 49.92 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 2018.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.8 Percentage of working age population in the same subgroup in 1998.
- How does Italy rank for labour force participation rate?
- Italy ranks 33rd out of 33 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy 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.
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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.