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
In 2027, potential labour force rate in MENA stood at 9.51.
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
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 40.38 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment 161,568 (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 161,568 (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates), annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
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. 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
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. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.