LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 16.04 in 2025. ▼ Falling
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia stood at 16.04. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 46.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia peaked at 42.26 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 16.04, in 2025.
That places North Macedonia 16th out of 89 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 42.26 | — |
| 2006 | 39.99 | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 39.8 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 34.44 | -13.5% |
| 2009 | 36.52 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 36.81 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 35.74 | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 35.92 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 32.88 | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 31.87 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 29.97 | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 28.41 | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 26.85 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 25.84 | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 22.82 | -11.7% |
| 2020 | 23.07 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 22.35 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 19.71 | -11.8% |
| 2024 | 16.9 | -14.3% |
| 2025 | 16.04 | -5.1% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 16.04 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.28, 1.7× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 16.04 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.71, 1.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.6 | 34.44 | 42.26 | 5 |
| 2010s | 30.71 | 22.82 | 36.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.61 | 16.04 | 23.07 | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.21 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,405 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 525.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 422.57 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 440.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in North Macedonia was 16.04 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.26 in 2005.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.04 in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- North Macedonia ranks 16th out of 89 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.