Persons outside: ICLS13) (15+) … 15+ previous ICLS13 definition in United States
United States: Persons outside: ICLS13) (15+) … 15+ previous ICLS13 definition was 102,846 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Persons outside the labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States stood at 102,846. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States peaked at 102,846 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 65,622, in 1994.
United States ranks 1st of 75 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Persons outside: ICLS13) (15+) … 15+ previous ICLS13 definition in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 65,622 | — |
| 1995 | 66,094 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 66,461 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 66,620 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 67,547 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 68,385 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 69,994 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 71,358 | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 72,706 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 74,658 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 75,956 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 76,762 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 77,387 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 78,743 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 79,501 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 81,659 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 83,941 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 86,001 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 88,310 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 90,290 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 92,025 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 93,671 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 94,351 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 94,759 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 95,716 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 95,636 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 99,587 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 100,241 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 99,686 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 99,826 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 100,465 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 102,846 | +2.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 102,846 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,481, 41.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66,788 | 65,622 | 68,385 | 6 |
| 2000s | 75,873 | 69,994 | 81,659 | 10 |
| 2010s | 91,470 | 83,941 | 95,716 | 10 |
| 2020s | 100,442 | 99,587 | 102,846 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States?
- Persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States was 102,846 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 102,846 in 2025.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,622 in 1994.
- How does United States rank for persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United States ranks 1st out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the 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. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.