Colombia Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Colombia's labor force participation was 63.40% in 2025, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Colombia's labor force participation stood at 63.40% in 2025, a decline of +0.13pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 63.18% by 2026. Colombia ranked 79th globally.
Colombia’s labor force participation rate has slipped from a high of 68.30 % in 1997 to a trough of 63.16 % in 2022, before reaching 63.40 % in 2025, placing the country 79th globally. The 36‑year series shows a gradual decline, reflecting demographic ageing, persistent informality and the impact of recent economic shocks that curtailed job‑search activity. The 2025 figure is almost identical to that of Japan (63.45 %) and slightly above Azerbaijan (63.29 %), underscoring Colombia’s convergence with economies that face similar structural constraints despite divergent income levels. The modest rebound from the 2022 low suggests that policy measures aimed at expanding formal employment, improving childcare provision and enhancing skill development could stabilize participation. Continued investment in education and active labour‑market programmes will be crucial to reverse the downward trajectory and raise the rate toward its historic peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 62.88% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 63.03% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 63.18% | - | - |
| 2025 | 63.40% | −0.13pp | #79 |
| 2024 | 63.53% | −0.21pp | #77 |
| 2023 | 63.74% | +0.58pp | #78 |
| 2022 | 63.16% | −1.18pp | #79 |
| 2021 | 64.33% | +0.91pp | #59 |
| 2020 | 63.42% | −0.91pp | #64 |
| 2019 | 64.32% | −0.91pp | #68 |
| 2018 | 65.24% | −0.78pp | #64 |
| 2017 | 66.01% | −0.41pp | #50 |
| 2016 | 66.42% | −0.60pp | #47 |
| 2015 | 67.02% | +0.03pp | #43 |
| 2014 | 66.99% | −0.28pp | #45 |
| 2013 | 67.27% | −0.80pp | #44 |
| 2012 | 68.07% | +0.56pp | #37 |
| 2011 | 67.51% | +0.44pp | #41 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Colombia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2023. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Colombia's labor force participation was 63.40% in 2025. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Colombia's labor force participation peaked at 68.30% in 1997.
The lowest labor force participation in Colombia was 63.16% in 2022.
Colombia ranks 79th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Colombia's labor force participation is projected to reach 63.18% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Colombia in 2025 was 63.40%. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_colombia_labor-force-participation,
title = {Colombia Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/colombia/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}