France Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
France's labor force participation was 55.35% in 2025, ranked 137th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 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.
France’s labor force participation rate stood at 55.35 % in 2025, placing the country 137th in the global ranking. Over the 36‑year series, the rate has shown modest volatility, rising from 55.60 % in 1990 to a post‑global‑financial‑crisis high of 56.31 % in 2009 before slipping to a pandemic‑induced trough of 54.27 % in 2020. The recent figure sits just below the 2009 peak and remains marginally lower than the 1990 level, indicating a gradual downward drift after the early‑2000s expansion. Compared with peers of similar rank, France’s participation is slightly below South Africa’s 55.58 % and above Myanmar’s 55.09 %, reflecting a middle‑of‑the‑road labour market engagement among economies of comparable size. Demographic aging, structural shifts toward service‑oriented employment, and policy incentives for longer working lives will be decisive in determining whether the participation rate can reverse its modest decline and move back toward the 2009 high.
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 |
Detected Pattern
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
France's labor force participation was 55.35% in 2025. Ranked 137th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.
France's labor force participation peaked at 56.31% in 2009.
The lowest labor force participation in France was 54.27% in 2020.
France ranks 137th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
France's labor force participation is projected to reach 55.49% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of France in 2025 was 55.35%. This ranks 137th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_france_labor-force-participation,
title = {France Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/france/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}