Potential labour force rate in MENA
MENA: Potential labour force rate was 9.51 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Potential labour force rate in MENA, 2004–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for potential labour force rate in MENA is 9.51, measured in 2027.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force rate in MENA peaked at 11.14 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.46, in 2023.
That places MENA 13th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Potential labour force rate in MENA, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10.71 | — |
| 2005 | 10.53 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 10.14 | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 10.05 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 9.93 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 9.82 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 9.91 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 10.21 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 10.39 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 10.24 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 10.31 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 10.64 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 10.5 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 10.63 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 10.44 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.25 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 11.14 | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 10.67 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 10.04 | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 9.46 | -5.8% |
| 2024 | 9.54 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 9.54 | -0.0% |
| 2026 | 9.53 | -0.1% |
| 2027 | 9.51 | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.2 | 9.82 | 10.71 | 6 |
| 2010s | 10.35 | 9.91 | 10.64 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.93 | 9.46 | 11.14 | 8 |
More work & labour data for MENA
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 44.52 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 30,521 (2027)
- NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 30.58 (2027)
- Female labor force by age 499,704 (2024)
- Labor force participation rate by age 25.79 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is potential labour force rate in MENA?
- Potential labour force rate in MENA was 9.51 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force rate recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 11.14 in 2020.
- What is the lowest potential labour force rate recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.46 in 2023.
- How does MENA rank for potential labour force rate?
- MENA ranks 13th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is potential labour force rate rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MENA data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Potential labour force rate (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The potential labour force rate is the potential labour force as a percent of the extended labour force. 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. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.