North America - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (national estimate)

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (national estimate) in North America was 55.37 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 61 years was 64.89 in 1987, while its lowest value was 42.80 in 1960.

Definition: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 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 December 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1960 42.80
1961 43.19
1962 43.30
1963 42.90
1964 43.30
1965 44.00
1966 46.50
1967 47.60
1968 48.50
1969 50.40
1970 51.30
1971 50.92
1972 53.00
1973 54.90
1974 56.60
1975 57.20
1976 58.02
1977 59.57
1978 61.57
1979 62.49
1980 62.11
1981 62.20
1982 62.19
1983 62.17
1984 63.03
1985 63.92
1986 64.58
1987 64.89
1988 64.85
1989 64.81
1990 63.34
1991 62.14
1992 62.06
1993 62.02
1994 62.65
1995 62.38
1996 62.19
1997 62.57
1998 63.03
1999 62.78
2000 62.99
2001 62.12
2002 61.46
2003 59.92
2004 59.36
2005 59.25
2006 58.65
2007 58.08
2008 57.48
2009 56.18
2010 54.61
2011 54.33
2012 54.19
2013 54.45
2014 54.62
2015 54.79
2016 54.74
2017 55.17
2018 55.33
2019 56.07
2020 53.97
2021 55.37

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.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure