Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate) - Country Ranking - Europe

Definition: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.

See also: Thematic map, Time series comparison

Find indicator:
Rank Country Value Year
1 Iceland 72.86 2020
2 Netherlands 68.74 2020
3 Switzerland 65.02 2020
4 Denmark 60.22 2020
5 United Kingdom 56.64 2019
6 Austria 56.13 2020
7 Norway 55.60 2020
8 Malta 54.06 2020
9 Finland 52.22 2020
10 Sweden 52.07 2020
11 Germany 51.90 2020
12 Liechtenstein 50.64 2015
13 Andorra 46.14 2008
14 Belarus 44.76 2020
15 Ireland 43.68 2020
16 Estonia 43.00 2020
17 Turkey 38.98 2020
18 Cyprus 38.29 2020
19 Albania 36.59 2019
19 Lithuania 36.59 2020
21 San Marino 36.15 2019
22 France 35.65 2020
23 Latvia 34.83 2020
24 Bosnia and Herzegovina 33.18 2020
25 Croatia 32.47 2020
26 Luxembourg 32.36 2020
27 Ukraine 31.90 2020
28 Poland 31.84 2020
29 Slovenia 31.45 2020
30 Hungary 31.20 2020
31 North Macedonia 30.92 2020
32 Montenegro 30.85 2020
33 Portugal 30.16 2020
34 Spain 29.91 2020
35 Romania 29.73 2020
36 Belgium 28.43 2020
37 Serbia 28.30 2020
38 Slovak Republic 28.12 2020
39 Czech Republic 27.30 2020
40 Italy 23.83 2020
41 Bulgaria 21.89 2020
42 Greece 21.21 2020
43 Moldova 18.32 2020

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Development Relevance: Estimates of women in the labor force and employment are generally lower than those of men and are not comparable internationally, reflecting that demographic, social, legal, and cultural trends and norms determine whether women's activities are regarded as economic. In many low-income countries women often work on farms or in other family enterprises without pay, and others work in or near their homes, mixing work and family activities during the day. In many high-income economies, women have been increasingly acquiring higher education that has led to better-compensated, longer-term careers rather than lower-skilled, shorter-term jobs. However, access to good- paying occupations for women remains unequal in many occupations and countries around the world. Labor force statistics by gender is important to monitor gender disparities in employment and unemployment patterns.

Limitations and Exceptions: Data on the labor force are compiled by the ILO from labor force surveys, censuses, and establishment censuses and surveys. For some countries a combination of these sources is used. Labor force surveys are the most comprehensive source for internationally comparable labor force data. They can cover all non-institutionalized civilians, all branches and sectors of the economy, and all categories of workers, including people holding multiple jobs. By contrast, labor force data from population censuses are often based on a limited number of questions on the economic characteristics of individuals, with little scope to probe. The resulting data often differ from labor force survey data and vary considerably by country, depending on the census scope and coverage. Establishment censuses and surveys provide data only on the employed population, not unemployed workers, workers in small establishments, or workers in the informal sector. The reference period of a census or survey is another important source of differences: in some countries data refer to people's status on the day of the census or survey or during a specific period before the inquiry date, while in others data are recorded without reference to any period. In countries, where the household is the basic unit of production and all members contribute to output, but some at low intensity or irregularly, the estimated labor force may be much smaller than the numbers actually working. Differing definitions of employment age also affect comparability. For most countries the working age is 15 and older, but in some countries children younger than 15 work full- or part-time and are included in the estimates. Similarly, some countries have an upper age limit. As a result, calculations may systematically over- or underestimate actual rates.

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.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.