In October 2024, the civilian labor force amounted to 168.48 million people in the United States. The term civilian labor force is used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to describe the subset of Americans who have jobs or are seeking a job, are at least 16 years old, are not serving in the military, and are not institutionalized.

Graph and download economic data for Not in Labor Force (LNS15000000) from Jan 1975 to Jun 2025 about 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

In 2023, it was estimated that over 161 million Americans were in some form of employment, while 3.64 percent of the total workforce was unemployed. This was the lowest unemployment rate since the 1950s, although these figures are expected to rise in 2023 and beyond. 1980s-2010s Since the 1980s, the total United States labor force has generally risen as the population has grown, however, the annual average unemployment rate has fluctuated significantly, usually increasing in times of crisis, before falling more slowly during periods of recovery and economic stability. For example, unemployment peaked at 9.7 percent during the early 1980s recession, which was largely caused by the ripple effects of the Iranian Revolution on global oil prices and inflation. Other notable spikes came during the early 1990s; again, largely due to inflation caused by another oil shock, and during the early 2000s recession. The Great Recession then saw the U.S. unemployment rate soar to 9.6 percent, following the collapse of the U.S. housing market and its impact on the banking sector, and it was not until 2016 that unemployment returned to pre-recession levels. 2020s 2019 had marked a decade-long low in unemployment, before the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic saw the sharpest year-on-year increase in unemployment since the Great Depression, and the total number of workers fell by almost 10 million people. Despite the continuation of the pandemic in the years that followed, alongside the associated supply-chain issues and onset of the inflation crisis, unemployment reached just 3.67 percent in 2022 - current projections are for this figure to rise in 2023 and the years that follow, although these forecasts are subject to change if recent years are anything to go by.

In 2024, the U.S. employment rate stood at 60.1 percent. Employed persons consist of: persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week; persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-operated enterprise; and persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, industrial dispute, or various personal reasons. The employment-population ratio represents the proportion of the civilian non-institutional population that is employed. The monthly unemployment rate for the United States can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for United States (LFWA64TTUSQ647S) from Q1 1977 to Q1 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, population, and USA.

United States US: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 50.340 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.410 % for 2016. United States US: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 54.810 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.150 % in 1989 and a record low of 45.000 % in 2010. United States US: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 55 Yrs. & over (LNS11324230) from Jan 1948 to Jun 2025 about 55 years +, participation, civilian, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

United States - Employment-Population Ratio was 59.70% in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employment-Population Ratio reached a record high of 64.70 in April of 2000 and a record low of 51.20 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employment-Population Ratio - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States US: Labour Force With Advanced Education: Male: % of Male Working-age Population data was reported at 73.250 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 73.560 % for 2016. United States US: Labour Force With Advanced Education: Male: % of Male Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 77.826 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81.128 % in 1994 and a record low of 73.250 % in 2017. United States US: Labour Force With Advanced Education: Male: % of Male Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with an advanced level of education who are in the labor force. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

United States Employment Population Ratio: Age 16 to 24 data was reported at 53.500 Unit in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.900 Unit for May 2018. United States Employment Population Ratio: Age 16 to 24 data is updated monthly, averaging 54.100 Unit from Jan 1948 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 846 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.200 Unit in Jul 1989 and a record low of 42.600 Unit in Jan 2010. United States Employment Population Ratio: Age 16 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G015: Current Population Survey: Employment Population Ratio.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Women (LNS11300002) from Jan 1948 to Jun 2025 about females, participation, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

In 2024, the employment rate of the workforce of 55 years and older decreased to 37.3 percent. Employment rate among young adults (age 16-24) was at 50.9 percent in 2024. For monthly updates on employment in the United States visit the annual national employment rate here.

United States Labor Force: Native Born: Male data was reported at 71,714.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 71,059.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Labor Force: Native Born: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 68,890.500 Person th from Jan 2007 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 220 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72,018.000 Person th in Jul 2023 and a record low of 66,847.000 Person th in Jan 2011. United States Labor Force: Native Born: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Labour Force.

United States Labor Force Participation Rate: Foreign Born: Female data was reported at 56.500 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 56.800 % for Mar 2025. United States Labor Force Participation Rate: Foreign Born: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 54.600 % from Jan 2007 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 220 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.200 % in Aug 2024 and a record low of 50.200 % in Apr 2020. United States Labor Force Participation Rate: Foreign Born: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Labour Force: Participation Rate.

Key information about United States Labour Force Participation Rate

• United States Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 62.3 % in Feb 2025, compared with 62.3 % in the previous month.
• US Labour Force Participation Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1948 to Feb 2025, with an average rate of 62.9 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 68.1 % in Jul 1997 and a record low of 57.2 % in Jan 1948.
• US Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• In the latest reports, US Population reached 341.2 million people in Dec 2024.
• Unemployment Rate of US increased to 4.1 % in Feb 2025.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 4,900.8 USD in Feb 2025.

United States US: Labour Force With Basic Education: Female: % of Female Working-age Population data was reported at 52.687 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.814 % for 2016. United States US: Labour Force With Basic Education: Female: % of Female Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 52.685 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.074 % in 2007 and a record low of 47.123 % in 1994. United States US: Labour Force With Basic Education: Female: % of Female Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with a basic level of education who are in the labor force. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

United States Employment Population Ratio: Male data was reported at 66.400 Unit in Nov 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 66.400 Unit for Oct 2018. United States Employment Population Ratio: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 71.900 Unit from Jan 1948 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 851 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 86.200 Unit in Aug 1951 and a record low of 62.100 Unit in Jan 2010. United States Employment Population Ratio: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G015: Current Population Survey: Employment Population Ratio.

Graph and download economic data for Multiple Jobholders as a Percent of Employed (LNS12026620) from Jan 1994 to Jun 2025 about multiple jobholders, 16 years +, percent, household survey, employment, and USA.

United States Employment: Management, Business & Financial Operations data was reported at 25,231.000 Person th in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25,784.000 Person th for May 2018. United States Employment: Management, Business & Financial Operations data is updated monthly, averaging 19,605.000 Person th from Jan 1983 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 426 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25,992.000 Person th in Mar 2018 and a record low of 11,609.000 Person th in Feb 1983. United States Employment: Management, Business & Financial Operations data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G013: Current Population Survey: Employment.

In 2023, California had the largest civilian labor force in the United States with about 19.31 million people. Wyoming had the smallest labor force with around 295,000 workers.