Lesotho - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in Lesotho was 931,154 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 931,154 in 2021 and a minimum value of 690,662 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 690,662
1991 711,563
1992 733,389
1993 755,941
1994 778,800
1995 801,464
1996 821,749
1997 841,535
1998 859,807
1999 875,325
2000 882,951
2001 886,237
2002 885,225
2003 881,725
2004 877,908
2005 875,036
2006 870,783
2007 868,853
2008 868,629
2009 869,248
2010 870,230
2011 869,501
2012 869,892
2013 871,599
2014 881,445
2015 892,175
2016 900,936
2017 910,583
2018 920,631
2019 930,607
2020 917,562
2021 931,154

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