In Europe, Italy and Romania have the highest percentage of economically inactive population. In Italy, more than one third of all people aged 15 to 64 years were inactive during the third quarter of 2024, while in Romania they added up to 32.9 percent. On the other hand, less than 15 percent of the adult population in Iceland was economically inactive. Economic inactivity means they were neither unemployed not employed.

As of the first quarter of 2025, approximately 32 percent of people who were economically inactive in the United Kingdom were on long-term or temporary sick leave, with a further 26.6 percent of economically inactive people being students.

The economically inactive population comprises those neither employed nor unemployed, i.e., not actively searching for a job. Hence, they are not classified in the labor force. In Italy, the share of economically inactive women is around the double of that of men. As of July 2024, 24 percent of the male and 42 percent of the female population were economically inactive.

Labour Force: Economically Inactive: 15 to 24 Years data was reported at 343.000 Person th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 296.000 Person th for Aug 2018. Labour Force: Economically Inactive: 15 to 24 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 349.000 Person th from Jan 1989 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 357 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 429.000 Person th in Jan 1995 and a record low of 130.000 Person th in Jun 1990. Labour Force: Economically Inactive: 15 to 24 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Finland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Finland – Table FI.G006: Labour Force and Economically Inactive Population: by Gender and Age Group.

Labour Force: Economically Inactive: Female: 45 to 54 Years data was reported at 42.000 Person th in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.000 Person th for May 2018. Labour Force: Economically Inactive: Female: 45 to 54 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 43.000 Person th from Jan 1989 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 354 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.000 Person th in Sep 1999 and a record low of 27.000 Person th in Oct 2017. Labour Force: Economically Inactive: Female: 45 to 54 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Finland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Finland – Table FI.G006: Labour Force and Economically Inactive Population: by Gender and Age Group.

In 2022, the highest and lowest rates of economic inactivity were in the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi (33%) and white 'other’ (15%) ethnic groups.

Croatia Population: Economically Inactive: Male: Age 15 to 64: Age 25 to 49 data was reported at 51.000 Person th in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 44.000 Person th for Jun 2024. Croatia Population: Economically Inactive: Male: Age 15 to 64: Age 25 to 49 data is updated semiannually, averaging 81.000 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 111.000 Person th in Jun 2010 and a record low of 44.000 Person th in Jun 2024. Croatia Population: Economically Inactive: Male: Age 15 to 64: Age 25 to 49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Croatia – Table HR.G004: Labour Force Survey: Labour Force and Economically Inactive Population: Semiannual.

This dataset provides quarterly statistics on the number of economically inactive individuals aged 15 years and above in the State of Qatar. The data is disaggregated by nationality, gender, and age group, supporting labor market analysis and policy-making.

The table shows the number of economically inactive population, by county and region, per quarter [thousands]

Economic inactivity rates broken down by gender for local authorities in London. The economically inactive population is comprised of those who are unable or do not wish to enter employment.

Working age Economic Inactivity by Gender, and Inactivity rates by reason (working age). Reasons are: Student, Looking after family/home, Temporary sick, Long-term sick, Discouraged, Retired, Other, Economically inactive who want a job, Economically inactive who do not want a job.

The data are taken from the Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics.
18/03/2015 Data has been reweighted in line with the latest ONS estimates.

The economically inactive population includes those who are neither employed nor looking for employment. As of March 2024, Italy's economically inactive population amounted to 12.3 million people. Between 2019 and 2024, the highest number of inactive people was registered in the second quarter of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Economic inactivity rates broken down by ethnic group. The economically inactive population is comprised of those who are unable or do not wish to enter employment. The data are taken from the Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

Economic inactivity rates broken down by ethnic group. The economically inactive population is comprised of those who are unable or do not wish to enter employment. The data are taken from the Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

This dataset provides statistics on the economically inactive population aged 15 years and above, disaggregated by nationality and relation to workforce. It compares census data from 2010 and 2020 to highlight labor market trends and nationality participation.

Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Economically Inactive Population data was reported at 6,845.800 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,039.300 Person th for 2016. Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Economically Inactive Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7,747.850 Person th from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2017, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,410.300 Person th in 2005 and a record low of 6,845.800 Person th in 2017. Ukraine Labour Force: Working Age: Economically Inactive Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.G010: Labour Force: Annual. Persons in working ages are men 16–59 years old and women aged 16–54 years old inclusively.

Ukraine Labour Force: 15 to 70 Years: Urban: Economically Inactive Population data was reported at 7,270.900 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,300.400 Person th for 2016. Ukraine Labour Force: 15 to 70 Years: Urban: Economically Inactive Population data is updated yearly, averaging 9,105.900 Person th from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2017, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,674.900 Person th in 2006 and a record low of 7,270.900 Person th in 2017. Ukraine Labour Force: 15 to 70 Years: Urban: Economically Inactive Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.G010: Labour Force: Annual.

Economically Active Population Survey: Inactive population by main class of inactivity, sex and age group. Annual. National.

This is the proportion of the population aged 16 to 64 who are economically inactive. Economically inactive are people who are neither in employment nor unemployed. This group includes: all those who were looking after a family/home, sick, retired or students; those 'Wanting A Job' - people not in employment who want a job but are not classed as unemployed because they have either not sought work in the last four weeks or are not available to start work; and those 'Not Wanting A Job' - people who are neither in employment nor unemployed and who do not want a job. While the source is a rolling annual survey updated quarterly, a given 12-month period should be compared to the matching 12-month period in previous years to obtain valid comparisons. The data for district and unitary authorities is generally taken not directly from the Annual Population Survey but from associated modelled estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics, which provide greater accuracy.Data is Powered by LG Inform Plus and automatically checked for new data on the 3rd of each month.

Labour force survey (LFS) Purpose and short description The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household sample survey, conducted throughout the year. It is based on the responses of approximately 110,000 persons aged 15-89. Its main objective is to classify the population of 15-89 years into three groups (employed, unemployed and inactive persons on the labous market) and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on every category. This survey is also carried out in the other EU Member States and is coordinated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In Belgium, the LFS is organised by Statbel. The objective is to obtain comparable information at European level, in particular as regards employment and unemployment rates as defined by the International Labour Office (ILO), but also to collect and disseminate data that are otherwise not available, for example about the mobility of workers, the reasons for working part-time, the various forms of part-time employment, the occupation, the educational level of the working age population, ... . Survey population Members of private households aged 15-89. Sample frame Demographic data from the National Register. Data collection method and sample size Data are collected through face-to-face interviews for the first wave of the survey. Since 2017, there have been three (shorter) follow-up waves to which households respond online or by telephone. Households with only inactive persons older than 64 can also be interviewed by telephone. Every year, around 34,000 households take part in this survey. Response rate On average, the response rate in the first wave of the survey is around 68% and in the follow-up waves between 90% and 95%. Periodicity Quarterly Release calendar Results availability: around 3 months after the end of the reference period. Forms Labour Force Survey 2025 (PDF, 1 Mb) Definitions regarding employment and unemployment The survey is harmonised at European level. The definitions regarding employment and unemployment that are mentioned are those of the International Labour Office (ILO) to allow international comparison. People with a job (employed people) comprise all people who during the reference week performed some work ‘for wage or salary’ or ‘for profit’ regardless of the duration (even if this was only one hour), or who had a job but were temporarily absent. For example, one can be temporarily absent for holidays, illness, technical or economic reasons (temporary unemployment),.... Family workers are also included in the category ‘employed’. Since 2021, people who have been temporarily unemployed for an uninterrupted period of more than three months are counted as unemployed or inactive, and no longer as employed. The unemployed comprise all people who: (a) during the reference week were without work, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; (b) were available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the reference week; (c) were actively seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps during the last four weeks including the reference week to seek paid employment or self-employment, or who had found a job to start within a maximum period of three months. Please note: The ILO unemployment figures are unrelated to any possible registration with the VDAB, Actiris, FOREM or the ADG, or to the receipt of unemployment benefits from ONEM (National Employment Office). As a result, they cannot be compared with administrative unemployment figures. The labour force is made up of the employed and the unemployed. The economically inactive population comprises all people who were not considered as employed or unemployed. The employment rate represents employed persons as a percentage of the same age population. The employment rate as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy represents the share of persons employed in the population aged 20 to 64. The unemployment rate represents the share of unemployed people in the labour force (employed + unemployed) within a given age group. The economic activity rate represents the share of the labour force (employed + unemployed) in the total population within a given age group. The above indicators (employment rate, unemployment rate and economic activity rate) are the most important indicators for international comparisons of the labour market evolution. Low-skilled people are people who have at best a lower secondary education diploma. Medium-skilled people have obtained an upper secondary education diploma, but no higher education diploma. High-skilled people have a higher education diploma. Metadata Employment, unemployment, labour market (NL-FR) Labour force survey (LFS) (NL-FR) Survey methodology Modifications to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2021 LFS: Methodological improvements to the Labour Force Survey 2017 (PDF, 99 Kb) LFS: Presentation of the survey until 2016 (NL-FR) LFS: Presentation of the survey from 2017 (NL-FR) Note on the occasion

In the Nordic countries, Iceland has the lowest rate of economically inactive people. In 2021, the rate was at ** percent in Iceland. Finland had the highest at over ** percent, followed by Denmark and Norway, both having above ** percent. Furthermore, Sweden's inactivity rate has decrease steadily over the last decade until the outbreak of COVID-19, reaching **** percent in 2021. Economically inactive people are those of working age who are registered as being neither employed nor unemployed (such as students, the sick or disabled, or those caring for families).