From the bustling tech hubs of America to the sprawling manufacturing centers of China, the global labor force of 3.7 billion people forms the beating heart of the world economy, a dynamic story revealed by the latest statistics on employment, wages, and participation rates across dozens of nations.
Key Takeaways
- In September 2024, the US civilian labor force totaled 170.0 million people.
- As of 2023, the global labor force stood at approximately 3.7 billion people.
- In the EU-27, the labor force was 241.7 million in 2023.
- In the US, the prime-age labor force participation rate (25-54) was 83.4% in September 2024.
- Globally, the labor force participation rate for women was 47.2% in 2023.
- EU-27 labor force participation rate was 73.9% for ages 15-74 in 2023.
- US unemployment rate was 4.1% in September 2024.
- Global unemployment rate averaged 5.1% in 2023.
- EU-27 unemployment rate was 5.9% in 2023.
- US average hourly earnings for private sector rose 4.0% year-over-year in September 2024.
- Global average monthly wage was $1,498 in 2023 PPP terms.
- EU-27 median gross hourly earnings were €21.3 in 2022.
- US employment in goods-producing industries was 21.9 million in September 2024.
- Global agriculture employment share was 26.3% of total employment in 2023.
- EU-27 services sector employed 79.6% of workforce in 2023.
The post compares global labor forces, participation rates, unemployment, and wages by country.
Employment by Sector
- US employment in goods-producing industries was 21.9 million in September 2024.
- Global agriculture employment share was 26.3% of total employment in 2023.
- EU-27 services sector employed 79.6% of workforce in 2023.
- India's agriculture sector employment was 45.5% in 2023.
- China's industry employment share was 28.8% in 2023.
- Canada's goods-producing employment rose to 4.18 million in September 2024.
- Brazil's services sector accounted for 68.2% of employment in 2023.
- Japan's services employment was 70.4% in 2023.
- Germany's manufacturing employment was 7.8 million in 2023.
- Australia's construction employment reached 1.4 million in August 2024.
- Mexico's informal sector employment was 55.1% in 2023.
- South Korea's manufacturing jobs totaled 4.1 million in 2023.
- France's tertiary sector employment was 79.8% in 2023.
- UK's professional services employment grew 2.1% in 2023.
- Russia's agriculture employment share was 6.2% in 2023.
- Indonesia's manufacturing employment was 14.7% in 2023.
- Turkey's construction sector employed 7.2% of workforce in 2023.
- Spain's tourism-related services employment was 12.5% in 2023.
- Italy's industry employment share was 24.1% in 2023.
- South Africa's mining sector employment was 456,000 in 2023.
- Argentina's agriculture employment was 8.5% in 2023.
- Netherlands' business services employment was 15.2% in 2023.
- Sweden's public sector employment was 29.4% in 2023.
- Poland's construction employment reached 1.2 million in 2023.
- Belgium's financial services jobs totaled 250,000 in 2023.
- Switzerland's health sector employment grew 2.3% in 2023.
- Norway's oil and gas extraction employed 190,000 in 2023.
- Denmark's manufacturing employment was 330,000 in 2023.
- Finland's forestry employment share was 1.2% in 2023.
- Austria's tourism employment was 380,000 in 2023.
Employment by Sector Interpretation
Despite the march of progress, the global economy stubbornly resembles a three-act play: a vast chorus of service workers tends to the world's needs, a shrinking but mighty industrial ensemble builds its stuff, and agriculture's soloists—still center stage in developing nations—feed everyone, proving that while we may code, build, and design the future, we all still fundamentally eat it.
Labor Force Size
- In September 2024, the US civilian labor force totaled 170.0 million people.
- As of 2023, the global labor force stood at approximately 3.7 billion people.
- In the EU-27, the labor force was 241.7 million in 2023.
- India's labor force reached 593 million in 2023.
- China's labor force was 775 million in 2022.
- In Canada, the labor force numbered 20.6 million in September 2024.
- Brazil's labor force was 109.4 million in 2023.
- Japan's labor force was 68.7 million in 2023.
- Germany's labor force stood at 44.7 million in 2023.
- Australia's labor force was 14.1 million in August 2024.
- Mexico's labor force reached 60.5 million in 2023.
- South Korea's labor force was 29.4 million in 2023.
- France's labor force was 30.9 million in 2023.
- UK's labor force numbered 33.8 million in 2023.
- Russia's labor force was 75.3 million in 2022.
- Indonesia's labor force stood at 142.6 million in 2023.
- Turkey's labor force was 34.3 million in 2023.
- Spain's labor force reached 23.8 million in 2023.
- Italy's labor force was 25.0 million in 2023.
- South Africa's labor force numbered 24.1 million in 2023.
- Argentina's labor force was 20.0 million in 2023.
- Netherlands' labor force stood at 9.7 million in 2023.
- Sweden's labor force was 5.3 million in 2023.
- Poland's labor force reached 17.5 million in 2023.
- Belgium's labor force was 5.3 million in 2023.
- Switzerland's labor force numbered 5.2 million in 2023.
- Norway's labor force was 2.9 million in 2023.
- Denmark's labor force stood at 3.1 million in 2023.
- Finland's labor force was 2.7 million in 2023.
- Austria's labor force reached 4.7 million in 2023.
Labor Force Size Interpretation
Amid the global workforce of 3.7 billion, the U.S. contributes a solid 170 million workers, but it's humbling to see that China and India alone have mustered an army of labor larger than the next twenty countries combined.
Participation Rates
- In the US, the prime-age labor force participation rate (25-54) was 83.4% in September 2024.
- Globally, the labor force participation rate for women was 47.2% in 2023.
- EU-27 labor force participation rate was 73.9% for ages 15-74 in 2023.
- India's LFPR was 57.9% in 2023.
- China's LFPR stood at 66.3% in 2022.
- Canada's LFPR was 65.2% in September 2024.
- Brazil's LFPR reached 62.4% in 2023.
- Japan's LFPR was 62.3% in 2023.
- Germany's LFPR for 15-64 was 77.4% in 2023.
- Australia's LFPR was 66.9% in August 2024.
- Mexico's LFPR was 61.4% in 2023.
- South Korea's LFPR stood at 64.5% in 2023.
- France's LFPR was 69.1% in 2023.
- UK's LFPR for 16-64 was 74.3% in 2023.
- Russia's LFPR was 60.1% in 2022.
- Indonesia's LFPR reached 68.4% in 2023.
- Turkey's LFPR was 54.8% in 2023.
- Spain's LFPR stood at 65.2% in 2023.
- Italy's LFPR was 65.7% in 2023.
- South Africa's LFPR was 59.8% in 2023.
- Argentina's LFPR reached 64.7% in 2023.
- Netherlands' LFPR was 82.4% in 2023.
- Sweden's LFPR stood at 77.5% in 2023.
- Poland's LFPR was 69.1% in 2023.
- Belgium's LFPR reached 68.5% in 2023.
- Switzerland's LFPR was 82.9% in 2023.
- Norway's LFPR stood at 77.2% in 2023.
- Denmark's LFPR was 76.8% in 2023.
- Finland's LFPR reached 72.3% in 2023.
- Austria's LFPR was 74.9% in 2023.
Participation Rates Interpretation
The global labor market resembles a high school cafeteria, where a few Nordic and Swiss tables hum with near-universal participation while most of the world still grapples with the complex economics of who even gets a tray.
Unemployment Rates
- US unemployment rate was 4.1% in September 2024.
- Global unemployment rate averaged 5.1% in 2023.
- EU-27 unemployment rate was 5.9% in 2023.
- India's unemployment rate stood at 3.2% in 2023.
- China's unemployment rate was 5.2% in 2023.
- Canada's unemployment rate reached 6.6% in September 2024.
- Brazil's unemployment rate was 7.9% in 2023.
- Japan's unemployment rate was 2.6% in 2023.
- Germany's unemployment rate stood at 3.0% in 2023.
- Australia's unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2024.
- Mexico's unemployment rate reached 2.7% in 2023.
- South Korea's unemployment rate was 2.8% in 2023.
- France's unemployment rate was 7.4% in 2023.
- UK's unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in 2023.
- Russia's unemployment rate was 3.0% in 2022.
- Indonesia's unemployment rate reached 3.8% in 2023.
- Turkey's unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2023.
- Spain's unemployment rate stood at 11.3% in 2023.
- Italy's unemployment rate was 7.2% in 2023.
- South Africa's unemployment rate reached 28.0% in 2023.
- Argentina's unemployment rate was 6.2% in 2023.
- Netherlands' unemployment rate stood at 3.5% in 2023.
- Sweden's unemployment rate was 7.6% in 2023.
- Poland's unemployment rate reached 2.9% in 2023.
- Belgium's unemployment rate was 5.6% in 2023.
- Switzerland's unemployment rate stood at 4.1% in 2023.
- Norway's unemployment rate was 3.7% in 2023.
- Denmark's unemployment rate reached 5.0% in 2023.
- Finland's unemployment rate was 7.2% in 2023.
- Austria's unemployment rate stood at 5.5% in 2023.
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
While global job markets vary from Japan's remarkably tight 2.6% to Spain's sobering 11.3%, nothing puts the world in perspective quite like South Africa’s staggering 28% unemployment rate, a stark reminder that economic fortunes are wildly uneven.
Wages and Earnings
- US average hourly earnings for private sector rose 4.0% year-over-year in September 2024.
- Global average monthly wage was $1,498 in 2023 PPP terms.
- EU-27 median gross hourly earnings were €21.3 in 2022.
- India's average daily wage for regular workers was ₹584 in 2022-23.
- China's average annual wage was ¥106,813 in 2023.
- Canada's average hourly wage was CAD 35.22 in September 2024.
- Brazil's average monthly formal wage was BRL 2,979 in 2023.
- Japan's average monthly cash earnings were ¥341,752 in 2023.
- Germany's median gross hourly earnings were €19.3 in 2022.
- Australia's average weekly earnings were AUD 1,975 in May 2024.
- Mexico's average daily wage was MXN 224.4 in 2023.
- South Korea's average monthly wage was KRW 3,911,000 in 2023.
- France's average gross hourly wage was €25.5 in 2022.
- UK's median gross hourly earnings were £16.22 in April 2024.
- Russia's average monthly nominal wage was RUB 73,709 in 2023.
- Indonesia's average monthly wage was IDR 3,043,000 in 2023.
- Turkey's average monthly gross wage was TRY 20,302 in 2023.
- Spain's average annual gross earnings were €27,389 in 2022.
- Italy's average annual net wage was €25,106 in 2022.
- South Africa's average monthly earnings were ZAR 26,938 in 2023.
- Argentina's average monthly wage was ARS 450,000 in 2023.
- Netherlands' average hourly labor costs were €37.6 in 2023.
- Sweden's average monthly salary was SEK 39,800 in 2023.
- Poland's average monthly gross wage was PLN 7,260 in 2023.
- Belgium's average gross monthly wage was €4,069 in 2023.
- Switzerland's median monthly gross wage was CHF 6,788 in 2022.
- Norway's average monthly earnings were NOK 58,180 in 2023.
- Denmark's average hourly earnings were DKK 225.7 in 2023.
- Finland's average monthly earnings were €3,881 in 2023.
- Austria's average gross monthly earnings were €3,334 in 2023.
Wages and Earnings Interpretation
The world's paychecks paint a stark, decimal-point portrait where the daily grind in Delhi buys a fraction of the hourly peace in Zurich, yet everywhere, the universal language is a sigh over bills.
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