Labor Force Participation Rate Calculator
Divide the labor force by the working-age population to find the participation rate, the share of working-age people who are working or seeking work.
- Free
- No sign-up
Enter the labor force and working-age population to see the rate.
Worked example
With these example inputs:
- Labor force165,000,000
- Working-age population250,000,000
Participation rate: 66.0%
- The remaining share34.0%
- If the first figure were 10% higher72.6%
Frequently asked questions
What is the labor force participation rate?
It is the labor force divided by the working-age population, as a percentage. It shows how many eligible people are active in the workforce.
Why does participation matter?
It complements the unemployment rate. A falling participation rate can hide weakness even when unemployment looks low, because people have stopped looking for work.