Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain
Spain: Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 870.28 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain, 1998–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain is 870.28, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain peaked at 1,297 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 277.1, in 1998.
That places Spain 19th out of 88 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 277.1 | — |
| 1999 | 385.37 | +39.1% |
| 2000 | 313.48 | -18.7% |
| 2001 | 289.49 | -7.7% |
| 2002 | 333.48 | +15.2% |
| 2003 | 284 | -14.8% |
| 2004 | 321.94 | +13.4% |
| 2005 | 1,198 | +272.1% |
| 2006 | 1,050 | -12.4% |
| 2007 | 926.87 | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 918.49 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 1,052 | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 1,194 | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 1,099 | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 1,226 | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 1,297 | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 1,237 | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 1,070 | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 1,034 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 955.42 | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 905.72 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 857 | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 1,286 | +50.1% |
| 2021 | 1,156 | -10.1% |
| 2022 | 940.88 | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 840.98 | -10.6% |
| 2024 | 924.26 | +9.9% |
| 2025 | 870.28 | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 331.23 | 277.1 | 385.37 | 2 |
| 2000s | 668.68 | 284 | 1,198 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,087 | 857 | 1,297 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,003 | 840.98 | 1,286 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain?
- Potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain was 870.28 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 1,297 in 2013.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 277.1 in 1998.
- How does Spain rank for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Spain ranks 19th out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. 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.