The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Labor force participation rate for people ages 25 to 54 in May 2023 highest since January 2007
June 07, 2023
The labor force participation rate for people age 16 and older was 62.6 percent in May 2023. That was 0.7 percentage point below its February 2020 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The labor force participation rate for people ages 25 to 54 has returned to its pre-pandemic level. The rate was 83.4 percent in May 2023. The last time it was this high was January 2007. The labor force participation rate for women ages 25 to 54 was 77.6 percent in May 2023, 0.6 percentage point above what it was in February 2020. This group’s recovery comes after worries of lower labor force participation for women as they cared for children home from school during the pandemic or other relatives. Among men ages 25 to 54, the labor force participation rate was 89.1 percent in May 2023, having returned to its pre-pandemic level in April 2023.
Labor force participation rates by age and sex, seasonally adjusted, January 2007 to May 2023
Month
16 and older
16 to 24
Total, 25 to 54
Women, 25 to 54
Men, 25 to 54
55 and older
Jan 2007
66.4
60.7
83.4
75.6
91.5
38.0
Feb 2007
66.3
60.2
83.2
75.3
91.4
38.3
Mar 2007
66.2
60.0
83.2
75.3
91.2
38.5
Apr 2007
65.9
59.2
83.0
75.0
91.1
38.2
May 2007
66.0
58.7
83.0
75.3
90.9
38.6
Jun 2007
66.0
59.6
82.9
75.3
90.7
38.7
Jul 2007
66.0
59.0
82.9
75.4
90.6
38.9
Aug 2007
65.8
58.2
82.9
75.5
90.5
38.8
Sep 2007
66.0
59.5
82.8
75.4
90.4
38.9
Oct 2007
65.8
59.2
82.7
75.3
90.3
38.7
Nov 2007
66.0
59.6
82.9
75.5
90.6
38.9
Dec 2007
66.0
59.2
83.1
75.5
90.9
38.9
Jan 2008
66.2
59.5
83.3
75.7
91.1
39.1
Feb 2008
66.0
58.3
83.2
75.5
91.0
39.2
Mar 2008
66.1
58.4
83.3
75.8
90.9
39.3
Apr 2008
65.9
58.8
83.1
75.8
90.6
39.0
May 2008
66.1
59.9
83.1
75.9
90.5
39.0
Jun 2008
66.1
59.2
83.1
76.0
90.5
39.2
Jul 2008
66.1
59.1
83.1
75.7
90.7
39.5
Aug 2008
66.1
58.8
83.2
76.0
90.5
39.7
Sep 2008
66.0
58.8
83.1
75.8
90.5
39.5
Oct 2008
66.0
58.6
83.0
75.8
90.4
39.9
Nov 2008
65.9
57.9
83.0
75.9
90.3
39.9
Dec 2008
65.8
58.2
82.8
75.9
89.9
40.0
Jan 2009
65.7
57.4
82.8
75.8
90.0
40.0
Feb 2009
65.8
58.1
82.8
76.0
89.8
39.9
Mar 2009
65.6
57.7
82.6
75.7
89.7
39.9
Apr 2009
65.7
57.9
82.8
75.9
89.9
39.8
May 2009
65.7
57.5
82.9
75.8
90.1
40.2
Jun 2009
65.7
57.5
82.9
75.9
90.0
40.1
Jul 2009
65.5
57.2
82.8
75.8
89.8
40.0
Aug 2009
65.4
56.7
82.8
75.6
90.1
40.0
Sep 2009
65.1
56.1
82.5
75.3
89.8
39.9
Oct 2009
65.0
55.4
82.5
75.3
89.8
39.9
Nov 2009
65.0
55.6
82.4
75.4
89.6
40.0
Dec 2009
64.6
55.3
82.0
75.2
88.9
39.9
Jan 2010
64.8
54.9
82.4
75.6
89.2
40.0
Feb 2010
64.9
55.2
82.3
75.5
89.2
40.1
Mar 2010
64.9
55.3
82.4
75.5
89.5
40.2
Apr 2010
65.2
55.9
82.6
75.6
89.7
40.3
May 2010
64.9
55.5
82.3
75.2
89.5
40.4
Jun 2010
64.6
54.7
82.2
75.1
89.5
40.3
Jul 2010
64.6
55.1
81.9
74.8
89.2
40.4
Aug 2010
64.7
55.5
82.0
74.9
89.3
40.5
Sep 2010
64.6
54.8
82.0
74.9
89.3
40.4
Oct 2010
64.4
55.2
81.8
74.9
88.9
40.0
Nov 2010
64.6
55.4
82.0
75.3
88.9
40.1
Dec 2010
64.3
54.7
81.9
75.2
88.6
40.2
Jan 2011
64.2
55.3
81.7
74.9
88.6
39.9
Feb 2011
64.1
54.9
81.6
74.7
88.7
40.0
Mar 2011
64.2
55.1
81.7
74.9
88.8
40.0
Apr 2011
64.2
54.8
81.7
74.9
88.7
40.2
May 2011
64.1
54.5
81.7
74.6
89.0
40.2
Jun 2011
64.0
54.4
81.7
74.6
88.9
40.2
Jul 2011
64.0
54.2
81.4
74.5
88.6
40.2
Aug 2011
64.1
55.1
81.6
74.7
88.7
40.3
Sep 2011
64.2
55.3
81.5
74.6
88.6
40.6
Oct 2011
64.1
55.6
81.3
74.4
88.4
40.6
Nov 2011
64.1
55.4
81.5
74.4
88.7
40.4
Dec 2011
64.0
55.2
81.6
74.6
88.7
40.3
Jan 2012
63.7
54.6
81.5
74.5
88.8
40.1
Feb 2012
63.8
54.9
81.5
74.5
88.7
40.4
Mar 2012
63.8
54.7
81.5
74.5
88.9
40.4
Apr 2012
63.7
54.7
81.4
74.4
88.7
40.3
May 2012
63.7
54.8
81.4
74.5
88.6
40.5
Jun 2012
63.8
55.0
81.5
74.4
88.9
40.6
Jul 2012
63.7
55.1
81.4
74.5
88.6
40.2
Aug 2012
63.5
54.3
81.4
74.5
88.6
40.4
Sep 2012
63.6
54.7
81.5
74.6
88.6
40.4
Oct 2012
63.8
55.2
81.6
74.7
88.8
40.7
Nov 2012
63.6
55.3
81.2
74.3
88.4
40.7
Dec 2012
63.7
55.2
81.4
74.6
88.6
40.7
Jan 2013
63.7
55.6
81.1
74.0
88.4
40.7
Feb 2013
63.4
55.0
81.0
73.9
88.5
40.6
Mar 2013
63.3
54.3
81.0
73.9
88.3
40.5
Apr 2013
63.4
55.2
81.0
73.7
88.6
40.4
May 2013
63.4
54.9
81.2
74.0
88.6
40.5
Jun 2013
63.4
55.4
81.2
74.0
88.6
40.5
Jul 2013
63.3
55.1
81.2
74.1
88.5
40.2
Aug 2013
63.3
54.9
81.0
74.0
88.3
40.4
Sep 2013
63.2
55.6
81.0
73.9
88.4
40.1
Oct 2013
62.8
54.8
80.6
73.5
88.0
40.1
Nov 2013
63.0
54.8
81.0
73.8
88.6
39.9
Dec 2013
62.9
54.7
80.8
73.8
88.1
39.9
Jan 2014
62.9
54.5
80.9
73.9
88.2
39.9
Feb 2014
62.9
54.1
81.1
74.3
88.1
40.0
Mar 2014
63.1
55.5
81.1
74.2
88.3
39.9
Apr 2014
62.8
54.5
80.8
74.0
87.9
39.9
May 2014
62.9
54.9
80.7
73.8
88.0
40.1
Jun 2014
62.8
54.6
81.0
74.0
88.3
39.9
Jul 2014
62.9
55.3
80.8
73.7
88.3
40.0
Aug 2014
62.9
54.6
81.1
74.0
88.5
39.9
Sep 2014
62.8
55.2
80.8
73.7
88.1
39.9
Oct 2014
62.9
56.1
80.9
73.9
88.1
40.0
Nov 2014
62.9
55.7
80.9
73.9
88.1
40.1
Dec 2014
62.8
55.0
80.9
73.8
88.2
39.9
Jan 2015
62.9
55.0
81.0
73.8
88.5
40.1
Feb 2015
62.7
55.2
80.9
73.6
88.4
39.7
Mar 2015
62.6
54.7
80.8
73.4
88.5
39.9
Apr 2015
62.8
54.5
81.0
73.8
88.4
40.1
May 2015
62.9
55.6
81.1
74.1
88.3
40.0
Jun 2015
62.7
55.0
80.9
73.8
88.3
39.9
Jul 2015
62.6
54.9
80.7
73.5
88.1
40.0
Aug 2015
62.6
55.2
80.7
73.5
88.2
39.8
Sep 2015
62.4
54.5
80.6
73.3
88.2
39.7
Oct 2015
62.5
55.0
80.8
73.6
88.2
39.9
Nov 2015
62.5
54.9
80.9
73.9
88.1
39.9
Dec 2015
62.7
55.7
80.9
73.9
88.2
39.9
Jan 2016
62.7
54.7
81.1
74.0
88.4
40.1
Feb 2016
62.8
55.2
81.1
74.0
88.4
40.2
Mar 2016
63.0
55.3
81.3
74.2
88.7
40.2
Apr 2016
62.9
55.2
81.2
74.2
88.6
40.2
May 2016
62.7
55.2
81.2
74.2
88.4
39.8
Jun 2016
62.7
54.8
81.3
74.2
88.7
40.0
Jul 2016
62.8
54.9
81.3
74.2
88.5
40.2
Aug 2016
62.9
55.8
81.4
74.4
88.5
39.9
Sep 2016
62.9
55.1
81.5
74.7
88.6
40.0
Oct 2016
62.8
54.9
81.5
74.7
88.6
40.0
Nov 2016
62.7
55.3
81.4
74.4
88.5
39.9
Dec 2016
62.7
55.5
81.3
74.4
88.5
39.7
Jan 2017
62.8
55.5
81.5
74.4
88.8
40.0
Feb 2017
62.9
55.7
81.6
74.8
88.6
40.0
Mar 2017
62.9
55.7
81.6
74.9
88.5
40.1
Apr 2017
63.0
55.8
81.7
75.1
88.6
40.0
May 2017
62.8
55.3
81.7
75.1
88.5
40.0
Jun 2017
62.8
55.3
81.6
75.0
88.6
40.0
Jul 2017
62.9
55.4
81.8
75.2
88.6
40.0
Aug 2017
62.9
55.8
81.6
75.0
88.4
40.0
Sep 2017
63.1
56.0
81.9
75.3
88.7
40.1
Oct 2017
62.7
55.2
81.6
74.8
88.6
39.9
Nov 2017
62.7
54.9
81.7
75.2
88.5
39.9
Dec 2017
62.7
54.7
81.8
74.9
89.0
39.8
Jan 2018
62.7
55.9
81.7
74.7
89.0
39.5
Feb 2018
63.0
56.1
82.1
75.2
89.2
39.8
Mar 2018
62.9
55.9
82.0
75.0
89.2
39.8
Apr 2018
62.9
55.3
82.0
74.9
89.3
40.0
May 2018
62.9
55.2
81.9
75.0
89.1
40.2
Jun 2018
63.0
55.5
82.1
75.4
89.0
40.1
Jul 2018
63.0
55.4
82.1
75.6
88.9
40.1
Aug 2018
62.6
53.8
81.9
75.3
88.7
40.2
Sep 2018
62.8
54.9
81.9
75.3
88.7
40.1
Oct 2018
62.9
54.7
82.3
75.7
89.0
40.0
Nov 2018
62.9
54.8
82.2
75.7
88.9
40.2
Dec 2018
63.0
55.3
82.3
75.8
88.9
40.2
Jan 2019
63.1
55.7
82.5
75.8
89.4
40.2
Feb 2019
63.1
55.5
82.5
75.8
89.3
40.4
Mar 2019
63.0
55.8
82.5
75.5
89.6
40.0
Apr 2019
62.9
55.3
82.3
75.5
89.2
40.0
May 2019
62.9
56.1
82.2
75.6
88.9
39.9
Jun 2019
63.0
56.1
82.2
75.9
88.8
40.0
Jul 2019
63.1
56.5
82.1
75.4
88.9
40.5
Aug 2019
63.1
55.7
82.5
76.2
89.0
40.4
Sep 2019
63.2
55.9
82.7
76.4
89.1
40.3
Oct 2019
63.3
56.1
82.8
76.7
89.0
40.3
Nov 2019
63.3
55.7
82.8
76.6
89.2
40.4
Dec 2019
63.3
55.8
82.9
76.9
89.1
40.3
Jan 2020
63.3
56.7
83.1
76.9
89.4
40.2
Feb 2020
63.3
57.0
83.0
77.0
89.2
40.3
Mar 2020
62.6
54.8
82.5
76.1
89.1
39.6
Apr 2020
60.1
49.2
79.9
73.5
86.4
38.6
May 2020
60.8
51.6
80.6
74.2
87.2
38.5
Jun 2020
61.5
52.4
81.5
75.3
87.8
39.0
Jul 2020
61.5
52.7
81.2
75.1
87.6
39.3
Aug 2020
61.7
53.2
81.3
74.9
88.0
39.5
Sep 2020
61.4
54.4
80.9
74.4
87.6
38.9
Oct 2020
61.7
55.4
81.2
74.8
87.8
38.7
Nov 2020
61.5
55.1
80.9
74.6
87.4
38.8
Dec 2020
61.5
55.3
81.0
74.8
87.4
38.6
Jan 2021
61.3
55.0
81.1
74.7
87.6
38.2
Feb 2021
61.4
55.3
81.2
75.0
87.6
38.2
Mar 2021
61.5
55.2
81.3
75.2
87.6
38.2
Apr 2021
61.6
55.7
81.4
75.1
87.8
38.4
May 2021
61.5
55.5
81.3
75.0
87.9
38.4
Jun 2021
61.7
55.2
81.7
75.4
88.1
38.4
Jul 2021
61.8
55.3
81.9
75.5
88.3
38.4
Aug 2021
61.7
55.1
81.7
75.3
88.3
38.6
Sep 2021
61.7
55.5
81.6
75.2
88.1
38.6
Oct 2021
61.8
55.9
81.7
75.4
88.1
38.4
Nov 2021
61.9
56.2
81.9
75.7
88.2
38.4
Dec 2021
62.0
56.1
81.9
75.9
88.0
38.5
Jan 2022
62.2
55.6
82.1
76.0
88.2
39.1
Feb 2022
62.2
55.6
82.3
75.9
88.8
39.1
Mar 2022
62.4
55.9
82.5
76.5
88.6
38.9
Apr 2022
62.2
55.2
82.5
76.3
88.7
38.7
May 2022
62.3
55.4
82.6
76.6
88.7
38.9
Jun 2022
62.2
55.7
82.4
76.4
88.4
38.6
Jul 2022
62.1
55.3
82.4
76.4
88.5
38.7
Aug 2022
62.3
55.6
82.8
77.1
88.6
38.6
Sep 2022
62.3
55.4
82.6
76.6
88.7
38.8
Oct 2022
62.2
55.5
82.5
76.5
88.5
38.9
Nov 2022
62.2
55.8
82.3
76.3
88.4
38.6
Dec 2022
62.3
55.9
82.4
76.4
88.5
38.8
Jan 2023
62.4
56.5
82.7
76.9
88.5
38.7
Feb 2023
62.5
57.0
83.1
77.2
88.9
38.4
Mar 2023
62.6
56.9
83.1
77.1
89.1
38.6
Apr 2023
62.6
56.1
83.3
77.5
89.2
38.4
May 2023
62.6
56.3
83.4
77.6
89.1
38.4
People age 55 and older had a labor force participation rate of 38.4 percent in May 2023, down 1.9 percentage points from February 2020 (40.3 percent). Their participation rate remained around 40 percent for several years before the pandemic and had not been below 39.0 percent since 2007. People age 55 and older represent a growing share of the population. They comprised 37 percent of the population in 2022, compared with 30 percent in 2007. Much of this growth comes from people age 65 and older, whose population expanded 57 percent since 2007, faster than the 30-percent increase for people ages 55 to 64.
The labor force participation rate for people ages 16 to 24 returned to its pre-pandemic level in February 2023.
United States Department of Labor
