Jobs, Unemployment & Labor Force · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
U.S. Labor Force Participation Rate by Year (1948-2025)
The labor force participation rate tracks the share of the working-age population (16 and older) that is either employed or actively looking for work. In 2025, labor force participation recorded 62.44% of Civilian Noninstitutional Pop, compared with 62.59 in 2024. Across the 78-year archive (1948-2025), readings have ranged between 58.66 (1963) and 67.11 (1997).
Series Summary Ledger
- 2025 Reading62.44
- 2024 Reading62.59
- All-Time High (1997)67.11
- All-Time Low (1963)58.66
- Reporting Unit% of Civilian Noninstitutional Pop
- Series CodeCIVPART
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) · 1948-2025
U.S. Labor Force Participation Rate by Year (1948-2025)
2025 Reading: 62.44 % of Civilian Noninstitutional Pop
Loading historical series...
DECADE BENCHMARKS (1950s-2020s)
Labor Force Participation by Decade
| Decade | Mean | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 59.28 | 58.78 | 59.97 |
| 1960s | 59.21 | 58.66 | 60.08 |
| 1970s | 61.48 | 60.16 | 63.65 |
| 1980s | 64.80 | 63.77 | 66.44 |
| 1990s | 66.67 | 66.17 | 67.11 |
| 2000s | 66.24 | 65.40 | 67.07 |
| 2010s | 63.30 | 62.66 | 64.71 |
| 2020s | 62.21 | 61.67 | 62.61 |
Labor Force Participation Year-by-Year Historical Table (1948-2025)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (CIVPART)| Year | Labor Force Participation (% of Civilian Noninstitutional Pop) | Annual Change | Prime-Age (25-54) Employment-Population Ratio (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 62.44 | -0.16 | 80.60 |
| 2024 | 62.59 | -0.02 | 80.72 |
| 2023 | 62.61 | +0.38 | 80.68 |
| 2022 | 62.23 | +0.56 | 79.88 |
| 2021 | 61.67 | -0.07 | 77.60 |
| 2020 | 61.74 | -1.36 | 75.63 |
| 2019 | 63.10 | +0.22 | 79.95 |
| 2018 | 62.88 | +0.03 | 79.36 |
| 2017 | 62.85 | +0.05 | 78.62 |
| 2016 | 62.80 | +0.14 | 77.93 |
| 2015 | 62.66 | -0.22 | 77.23 |
| 2014 | 62.88 | -0.38 | 76.70 |
| 2013 | 63.26 | -0.44 | 75.89 |
| 2012 | 63.70 | -0.41 | 75.74 |
| 2011 | 64.11 | -0.60 | 75.12 |
| 2010 | 64.71 | -0.69 | 75.08 |
| 2009 | 65.40 | -0.62 | 75.78 |
| 2008 | 66.02 | -0.01 | 79.09 |
| 2007 | 66.03 | -0.13 | 79.90 |
| 2006 | 66.17 | +0.13 | 79.83 |
| 2005 | 66.03 | +0.05 | 79.33 |
| 2004 | 65.98 | -0.26 | 78.97 |
| 2003 | 66.24 | -0.34 | 78.83 |
| 2002 | 66.58 | -0.25 | 79.32 |
| 2001 | 66.83 | -0.23 | 80.55 |
| 2000 | 67.07 | -0.02 | 81.46 |
| 1999 | 67.08 | 0.00 | 81.42 |
| 1998 | 67.08 | -0.03 | 81.11 |
| 1997 | 67.11 | +0.34 | 80.86 |
| 1996 | 66.77 | +0.14 | 80.21 |
| 1995 | 66.63 | +0.05 | 79.74 |
| 1994 | 66.58 | +0.28 | 79.23 |
| 1993 | 66.30 | -0.14 | 78.54 |
| 1992 | 66.44 | +0.27 | 78.32 |
| 1991 | 66.17 | -0.37 | 78.64 |
| 1990 | 66.53 | +0.09 | 79.68 |
| 1989 | 66.44 | +0.53 | 79.92 |
| 1988 | 65.91 | +0.33 | 79.18 |
| 1987 | 65.58 | +0.33 | 78.36 |
| 1986 | 65.24 | +0.43 | 77.31 |
| 1985 | 64.81 | +0.44 | 76.70 |
| 1984 | 64.37 | +0.36 | 75.83 |
| 1983 | 64.01 | +0.02 | 73.70 |
| 1982 | 63.99 | +0.12 | 73.51 |
| 1981 | 63.88 | +0.10 | 74.65 |
| 1980 | 63.77 | +0.12 | 74.34 |
| 1979 | 63.65 | +0.50 | 74.59 |
| 1978 | 63.15 | +0.92 | 73.62 |
| 1977 | 62.23 | +0.65 | 71.88 |
| 1976 | 61.58 | +0.35 | 70.61 |
| 1975 | 61.23 | -0.04 | 69.34 |
| 1974 | 61.27 | +0.50 | 70.82 |
| 1973 | 60.78 | +0.39 | 70.49 |
| 1972 | 60.38 | +0.22 | 69.51 |
| 1971 | 60.16 | -0.22 | 69.02 |
| 1970 | 60.38 | +0.31 | 69.61 |
| 1969 | 60.08 | +0.45 | 69.95 |
| 1968 | 59.63 | +0.06 | 69.46 |
| 1967 | 59.57 | +0.42 | 68.98 |
| 1966 | 59.15 | +0.32 | 68.46 |
| 1965 | 58.83 | +0.12 | 67.65 |
| 1964 | 58.72 | +0.06 | 66.97 |
| 1963 | 58.66 | -0.11 | 66.44 |
| 1962 | 58.77 | -0.56 | 65.98 |
| 1961 | 59.32 | -0.09 | 65.29 |
| 1960 | 59.42 | +0.14 | 65.83 |
| 1959 | 59.27 | -0.22 | 65.64 |
| 1958 | 59.49 | -0.13 | 64.62 |
| 1957 | 59.62 | -0.34 | 65.96 |
| 1956 | 59.97 | +0.74 | 65.90 |
| 1955 | 59.23 | +0.44 | 65.23 |
| 1954 | 58.78 | -0.10 | 63.86 |
| 1953 | 58.88 | -0.18 | 65.32 |
| 1952 | 59.06 | -0.22 | 65.03 |
| 1951 | 59.28 | +0.12 | 64.41 |
| 1950 | 59.17 | +0.13 | 62.84 |
| 1949 | 59.03 | +0.19 | 62.08 |
| 1948 | 58.84 | - | 62.98 |