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France Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

55.35% −0.32pp (-0.6%)
Year 2025 Rank #137 Global Peak 56.31% (2009) Source World Bank

France Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

France's labor force participation stood at 55.35% in 2025, a decline of +0.32pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 55.49% by 2026. France ranked 137th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 55.37% - -
2027* trend 55.43% - -
2026* trend 55.49% - -
2025 55.35% −0.32pp #137
2024 55.66% −0.28pp #134
2023 55.94% +0.10pp #135
2022 55.84% +0.28pp #133
2021 55.55% +1.28pp #130
2020 54.27% −0.67pp #133
2019 54.94% −0.36pp #139
2018 55.30% +0.04pp #139
2017 55.26% −0.14pp #141
2016 55.40% −0.22pp #140
2015 55.62% −0.14pp #138
2014 55.76% −0.51pp #135
2013 56.27% +0.04pp #132
2012 56.23% +0.21pp #133
2011 56.02% −0.20pp #135
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +13.5% GDP growth 2.0% C/A balance 0.6%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

France matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is France's labor force participation?

France's labor force participation was 55.35% in 2025. Ranked 137th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in France?

France's labor force participation peaked at 56.31% in 2009.

What was the lowest labor force participation in France?

The lowest labor force participation in France was 54.27% in 2020.

How does France rank in labor force participation?

France ranks 137th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of France in 2026?

France's labor force participation is projected to reach 55.49% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of France in 2025?

The labor force participation of France in 2025 was 55.35%. This ranks 137th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
France Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/france/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_france_labor-force-participation, title = {France Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/france/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }