Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in EU-27
EU-27: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force was 221.87 million Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in EU-27, 2002–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
EU-27 recorded 221.87 million Persons for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in 2025. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in EU-27 peaked at 221.87 million Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 197.95 million Persons, in 2002.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in EU-27, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 197.95 million Persons | — |
| 2003 | 199.28 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 200.30 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 203.06 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 205.12 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 206.95 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 208.87 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 209.43 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 208.00 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 208.09 million Persons | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 209.54 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 209.99 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 210.53 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 210.89 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 211.94 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 212.91 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 213.15 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 214.26 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 211.87 million Persons | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 212.78 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 215.94 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 218.30 million Persons | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 220.27 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 221.87 million Persons | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 203.87 million Persons | 197.95 million Persons | 209.43 million Persons | 8 |
| 2010s | 210.93 million Persons | 208.00 million Persons | 214.26 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 216.84 million Persons | 211.87 million Persons | 221.87 million Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near EU-27
More work & labour data for EU-27
- Labour indicators levels - Regions — Population 388.12 million Persons (2026)
- Labour indicators levels - Regions — Employment 208.57 million Persons (2025)
- Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment 13.30 million Persons (2025)
- Labour indicators rates - Regions — Employment to population ratio -10.6 Percentage points (2025)
- Labour statistics - Regions (for 'Developer API') — Employment to -10.6 Percentage points (2025)
- Labour indicators rates - Regions — Labour force participation rate -11.1 Percentage points (2025)
- Labour statistics - Regions (for 'Developer API') — Labour force -11.1 Percentage points (2025)
- Labour indicators rates - Regions — Long-term unemployment rate 0.4 Percentage points (2025)
- Labour statistics - Regions (for 'Developer API') — Long-term 0.4 Percentage points (2025)
- Part-time employment - Regions 39.17 million Persons (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in EU-27?
- Labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in EU-27 was 221.87 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in EU-27?
- The highest recorded value was 221.87 million Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in EU-27?
- The lowest recorded value was 197.95 million Persons in 2002.
- How does EU-27 rank for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force?
- EU-27 ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force rising or falling in EU-27?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this EU-27 data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3). Data definition and source The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.