Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United States

United States: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force was 167.12 million Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
167.12 million Persons
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
2nd
of 46 countries
All-time high
167.12 million Persons
in 2023
All-time low
133.53 million Persons
in 1995
Years of data
29
1995–2023

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United States, 1995–2023

050.0M100.0M150.0M1995200920231995: 133.5M Persons1996: 135.5M Persons1997: 137.8M Persons1998: 139.4M Persons1999: 139.2M Persons2000: 140.9M Persons2001: 141.8M Persons2002: 145.4M Persons2003: 146.2M Persons2004: 147.4M Persons2005: 149.3M Persons2006: 151.6M Persons2007: 152.6M Persons2008: 154.0M Persons2009: 154.0M Persons2010: 153.7M Persons2011: 154.5M Persons2012: 155.1M Persons2013: 157.3M Persons2014: 156.2M Persons2015: 157.3M Persons2016: 158.7M Persons2017: 160.6M Persons2018: 161.6M Persons2019: 163.1M Persons2020: 160.6M Persons2021: 161.8M Persons2022: 164.8M Persons2023: 167.1M Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

United States recorded 167.12 million Persons for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in 2023. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.

The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United States peaked at 167.12 million Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 133.53 million Persons, in 1995.

United States ranks 2nd of 46 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United States, year by year

Annual values for Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United States, 1995 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1995 133.53 million Persons —
1996 135.46 million Persons +1.4%
1997 137.80 million Persons +1.7%
1998 139.44 million Persons +1.2%
1999 139.23 million Persons -0.1%
2000 140.87 million Persons +1.2%
2001 141.82 million Persons +0.7%
2002 145.36 million Persons +2.5%
2003 146.18 million Persons +0.6%
2004 147.40 million Persons +0.8%
2005 149.31 million Persons +1.3%
2006 151.59 million Persons +1.5%
2007 152.65 million Persons +0.7%
2008 154.00 million Persons +0.9%
2009 153.99 million Persons -0.0%
2010 153.70 million Persons -0.2%
2011 154.51 million Persons +0.5%
2012 155.05 million Persons +0.4%
2013 157.26 million Persons +1.4%
2014 156.22 million Persons -0.7%
2015 157.26 million Persons +0.7%
2016 158.74 million Persons +0.9%
2017 160.59 million Persons +1.2%
2018 161.64 million Persons +0.7%
2019 163.10 million Persons +0.9%
2020 160.61 million Persons -1.5%
2021 161.76 million Persons +0.7%
2022 164.78 million Persons +1.9%
2023 167.12 million Persons +1.4%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 167.12 million Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.02 million Persons, 33.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 137.09 million Persons 133.53 million Persons 139.44 million Persons 5
2000s 148.32 million Persons 140.87 million Persons 154.00 million Persons 10
2010s 157.81 million Persons 153.70 million Persons 163.10 million Persons 10
2020s 163.57 million Persons 160.61 million Persons 167.12 million Persons 4

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 1 OECD 637.45 million Persons compare
  2. 3 Brazil 102.52 million Persons compare
  3. 4 Russia 76.70 million Persons compare
  4. 5 Japan 69.57 million Persons compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More work & labour data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United States?
Labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United States was 167.12 million Persons in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 167.12 million Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 133.53 million Persons in 1995.
How does United States rank for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force?
United States ranks 2nd out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
Is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States 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.

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Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United States. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 02 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-levels-regions-labour-force/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,323 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

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.