Arab World - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in Arab World was 137,362,300 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 137,362,300 in 2021 and a minimum value of 60,854,060 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 60,854,060
1991 62,826,500
1992 64,195,990
1993 66,700,850
1994 69,228,120
1995 71,874,980
1996 73,807,050
1997 75,747,060
1998 77,608,510
1999 80,510,810
2000 82,317,120
2001 83,835,260
2002 85,129,970
2003 88,108,270
2004 91,235,780
2005 94,564,980
2006 98,204,580
2007 101,811,200
2008 104,906,500
2009 108,039,400
2010 112,368,500
2011 115,087,500
2012 118,471,000
2013 121,788,500
2014 124,020,100
2015 126,356,200
2016 128,930,500
2017 130,004,000
2018 131,676,800
2019 134,425,300
2020 133,947,100
2021 137,362,300

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