Labor force — all countries

Labor force — North America

Labor force in North America in 2025 — 197,680,392 people. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 38.7%.

2025 198M people +0.43% vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 198M people2025
Period minimum 142M people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — North America, 1990–2025140M160M180M200M19901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 142,478,544 people1991: 143,464,542 people1992: 145,543,893 people1993: 147,043,356 people1994: 149,527,709 people1995: 151,640,858 people1996: 153,946,251 people1997: 156,766,971 people1998: 158,742,914 people1999: 161,007,619 people2000: 163,326,810 people2001: 164,668,371 people2002: 166,183,826 people2003: 167,333,986 people2004: 168,772,982 people2005: 170,826,613 people2006: 173,247,280 people2007: 174,878,429 people2008: 176,852,461 people2009: 177,100,743 people2010: 177,264,386 people2011: 177,649,654 people2012: 179,014,899 people2013: 179,677,425 people2014: 180,471,162 people2015: 181,633,363 people2016: 183,743,934 people2017: 185,752,733 people2018: 187,393,348 people2019: 189,719,949 people2020: 187,070,585 people2021: 188,188,053 people2022: 190,945,914 people2023: 194,444,913 people2024: 196,842,646 people2025: 197,680,392 people
Change over the period: +55.2M (+38.74%) Average annual rate: 0.94 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North America

North America 198M people
World 3.74B people
Labor force — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 198M +837,746 +0.43%
2024 197M +2.4M +1.23%
2023 194M +3.5M +1.83%
2022 191M +2.76M +1.47%
2021 188M +1.12M +0.6%
2020 187M −2.65M −1.4%
2019 190M +2.33M +1.24%
2018 187M +1.64M +0.88%
2017 186M +2.01M +1.09%
2016 184M +2.11M +1.16%
2015 182M +1.16M +0.64%
2014 180M +793,737 +0.44%
2013 180M +662,526 +0.37%
2012 179M +1.37M +0.77%
2011 178M +385,268 +0.22%
2010 177M +163,643 +0.09%
2009 177M +248,282 +0.14%
2008 177M +1.97M +1.13%
2007 175M +1.63M +0.94%
2006 173M +2.42M +1.42%
2005 171M +2.05M +1.22%
2004 169M +1.44M +0.86%
2003 167M +1.15M +0.69%
2002 166M +1.52M +0.92%
2001 165M +1.34M +0.82%
2000 163M +2.32M +1.44%
1999 161M +2.26M +1.43%
1998 159M +1.98M +1.26%
1997 157M +2.82M +1.83%
1996 154M +2.31M +1.52%
1995 152M +2.11M +1.41%
1994 150M +2.48M +1.69%
1993 147M +1.5M +1.03%
1992 146M +2.08M +1.45%
1991 143M +985,998 +0.69%
1990 142M

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.