Costa Rica - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in Costa Rica was 2,418,503 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,482,184 in 2019 and a minimum value of 1,151,801 in 1990.

Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 1,151,801
1991 1,166,714
1992 1,183,921
1993 1,240,398
1994 1,290,807
1995 1,355,530
1996 1,349,489
1997 1,446,286
1998 1,531,957
1999 1,579,730
2000 1,605,783
2001 1,711,510
2002 1,747,203
2003 1,804,626
2004 1,814,560
2005 1,930,209
2006 1,965,286
2007 2,037,762
2008 2,067,066
2009 2,088,453
2010 2,051,461
2011 2,077,942
2012 2,245,872
2013 2,261,015
2014 2,308,993
2015 2,295,745
2016 2,212,664
2017 2,259,645
2018 2,369,041
2019 2,482,184
2020 2,368,243
2021 2,418,503

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure