Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) - Country Ranking - Europe

Definition: Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 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 September 2019.

See also: Thematic map, Time series comparison

Find indicator:
Rank Country Value Year
1 Iceland 86.67 2019
2 Switzerland 84.21 2019
3 Sweden 83.13 2019
4 Netherlands 80.94 2019
5 Germany 79.08 2019
6 Denmark 79.01 2019
7 Estonia 78.90 2019
8 Lithuania 78.24 2019
9 Norway 78.17 2019
10 Finland 78.15 2019
11 Belarus 78.06 2019
12 United Kingdom 78.01 2019
13 Latvia 77.74 2019
14 Czech Republic 76.86 2019
14 Austria 76.86 2019
16 Portugal 75.77 2019
17 Slovenia 75.13 2019
18 Cyprus 74.84 2019
19 Malta 74.39 2019
20 Spain 74.17 2019
21 Ireland 73.51 2019
22 Bulgaria 73.37 2019
23 Slovak Republic 72.72 2019
24 Hungary 72.57 2019
25 France 71.82 2019
26 Luxembourg 71.66 2019
27 Poland 70.85 2019
28 Albania 69.61 2019
29 Belgium 69.06 2019
30 Romania 68.75 2019
31 Greece 68.70 2019
32 Serbia 67.60 2019
33 Croatia 66.99 2019
34 Ukraine 66.64 2019
35 Montenegro 66.31 2019
36 North Macedonia 66.07 2019
37 Italy 65.82 2019
38 Turkey 58.09 2019
39 Bosnia and Herzegovina 57.74 2019
40 Moldova 47.17 2019

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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. The series is part of the ILO estimates and is 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.