United States - Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in United States was 67.60 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 61 years was 83.30 in 1960, while its lowest value was 67.60 in 2021.

Definition: Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older 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 83.30
1961 82.90
1962 82.00
1963 81.40
1964 81.00
1965 80.70
1966 80.40
1967 80.40
1968 80.10
1969 79.80
1970 79.70
1971 79.10
1972 78.90
1973 78.80
1974 78.70
1975 77.90
1976 77.50
1977 77.70
1978 77.90
1979 77.80
1980 77.40
1981 77.00
1982 76.60
1983 76.40
1984 76.40
1985 76.30
1986 76.30
1987 76.20
1988 76.20
1989 76.40
1990 76.40
1991 75.80
1992 75.80
1993 75.40
1994 75.12
1995 75.05
1996 75.03
1997 75.09
1998 74.89
1999 74.72
2000 74.81
2001 74.44
2002 74.10
2003 73.51
2004 73.33
2005 73.32
2006 73.46
2007 73.22
2008 72.95
2009 71.95
2010 71.18
2011 70.48
2012 70.16
2013 69.73
2014 69.21
2015 69.05
2016 69.19
2017 69.07
2018 69.05
2019 69.15
2020 67.66
2021 67.60

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