World - Labor force, total
The value for Labor force, total in World was 3,453,275,000 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,456,140,000 in 2019 and a minimum value of 2,319,716,000 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 | 2,319,716,000 |
| 1991 | 2,360,684,000 |
| 1992 | 2,403,253,000 |
| 1993 | 2,441,865,000 |
| 1994 | 2,486,713,000 |
| 1995 | 2,527,209,000 |
| 1996 | 2,570,658,000 |
| 1997 | 2,614,060,000 |
| 1998 | 2,655,255,000 |
| 1999 | 2,703,290,000 |
| 2000 | 2,749,084,000 |
| 2001 | 2,788,799,000 |
| 2002 | 2,831,658,000 |
| 2003 | 2,879,025,000 |
| 2004 | 2,928,166,000 |
| 2005 | 2,975,736,000 |
| 2006 | 3,012,318,000 |
| 2007 | 3,050,005,000 |
| 2008 | 3,081,528,000 |
| 2009 | 3,110,164,000 |
| 2010 | 3,137,221,000 |
| 2011 | 3,170,891,000 |
| 2012 | 3,202,956,000 |
| 2013 | 3,235,252,000 |
| 2014 | 3,270,351,000 |
| 2015 | 3,308,622,000 |
| 2016 | 3,344,259,000 |
| 2017 | 3,379,574,000 |
| 2018 | 3,414,233,000 |
| 2019 | 3,456,140,000 |
| 2020 | 3,389,313,000 |
| 2021 | 3,453,275,000 |
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
