IDA total - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in IDA total was 662,197,000 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 662,197,000 in 2021 and a minimum value of 302,828,600 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 302,828,600
1991 311,629,400
1992 320,641,300
1993 329,678,600
1994 339,373,600
1995 348,926,100
1996 359,247,300
1997 369,950,600
1998 380,327,300
1999 391,264,100
2000 402,404,900
2001 413,243,500
2002 424,128,700
2003 435,419,300
2004 446,940,500
2005 458,318,500
2006 468,947,400
2007 479,867,700
2008 491,189,700
2009 503,133,400
2010 515,959,500
2011 528,201,000
2012 538,364,000
2013 549,419,100
2014 562,458,200
2015 578,268,700
2016 592,409,100
2017 609,540,100
2018 625,632,300
2019 641,453,600
2020 641,876,600
2021 662,197,000

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