Labor force — all countries

Labor force — United States

Labor force in the United States in 2025 — 174,833,917 people. Ranked 3 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 36.8%.

2025 175M people +0.38% vs 2024
World rank 3of 182
Period maximum 175M people2025
Period minimum 128M people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — United States, 1990–2025120M140M160M180M19901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 127,821,416 people1991: 128,740,615 people1992: 130,853,396 people1993: 132,266,996 people1994: 134,611,321 people1995: 136,621,148 people1996: 138,775,669 people1997: 141,357,334 people1998: 143,097,780 people1999: 145,083,084 people2000: 147,139,887 people2001: 148,213,470 people2002: 149,241,895 people2003: 149,992,325 people2004: 151,218,126 people2005: 153,120,588 people2006: 155,267,046 people2007: 156,588,966 people2008: 158,272,885 people2009: 158,353,162 people2010: 158,330,168 people2011: 158,537,150 people2012: 159,682,753 people2013: 160,132,463 people2014: 160,876,331 people2015: 161,927,418 people2016: 163,886,456 people2017: 165,597,316 people2018: 167,002,008 people2019: 168,920,514 people2020: 166,565,253 people2021: 167,182,400 people2022: 169,483,435 people2023: 172,274,620 people2024: 174,166,487 people2025: 174,833,917 people
Change over the period: +47.01M (+36.78%) Average annual rate: 0.9 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 175M people
World 3.74B people
North America 198M people
High-income countries computed 716M people
Labor force — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 175M +667,430 +0.38%
2024 174M +1.89M +1.1%
2023 172M +2.79M +1.65%
2022 169M +2.3M +1.38%
2021 167M +617,147 +0.37%
2020 167M −2.36M −1.39%
2019 169M +1.92M +1.15%
2018 167M +1.4M +0.85%
2017 166M +1.71M +1.04%
2016 164M +1.96M +1.21%
2015 162M +1.05M +0.65%
2014 161M +743,868 +0.46%
2013 160M +449,710 +0.28%
2012 160M +1.15M +0.72%
2011 159M +206,982 +0.13%
2010 158M −22,994 −0.01%
2009 158M +80,277 +0.05%
2008 158M +1.68M +1.08%
2007 157M +1.32M +0.85%
2006 155M +2.15M +1.4%
2005 153M +1.9M +1.26%
2004 151M +1.23M +0.82%
2003 150M +750,430 +0.5%
2002 149M +1.03M +0.69%
2001 148M +1.07M +0.73%
2000 147M +2.06M +1.42%
1999 145M +1.99M +1.39%
1998 143M +1.74M +1.23%
1997 141M +2.58M +1.86%
1996 139M +2.15M +1.58%
1995 137M +2.01M +1.49%
1994 135M +2.34M +1.77%
1993 132M +1.41M +1.08%
1992 131M +2.11M +1.64%
1991 129M +919,199 +0.72%
1990 128M

Northern America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 175M CA Canada 22.85M

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.