Ireland Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Ireland's female labor participation was 59.76% in 2025, ranked 50th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Ireland's female labor participation stood at 59.76% in 2025, a decline of +0.08pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 60.70% by 2026. Ireland ranked 50th globally.
Ireland’s female labor participation has risen steadily over the 36‑year series, climbing from a trough of 41.72 % in 1990 to an all‑time peak of 60.16 % in 2023 and reaching 59.76 % in 2025, which places the country at rank 50 globally. The upward trajectory reflects structural shifts such as higher female educational attainment, expanding service‑sector jobs, and supportive family‑policy reforms that have gradually reduced the gender gap in the labour market. Ireland’s 2025 rate is marginally below the peak and closely matches peers such as Canada (60.20 %) and Guinea‑Bissau (60.29 %), indicating that while Ireland remains competitive among the higher‑participation economies, modest room for improvement persists. The consistency of growth suggests that continued investment in childcare provision, flexible work arrangements, and incentives for female entrepreneurship could sustain the advance, while any reversal of these policies might stall or reverse the positive trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 61.61% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 61.16% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 60.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 59.76% | −0.08pp | #50 |
| 2024 | 59.84% | −0.32pp | #50 |
| 2023 | 60.16% | +1.04pp | #51 |
| 2022 | 59.11% | +1.26pp | #54 |
| 2021 | 57.85% | +2.80pp | #58 |
| 2020 | 55.06% | −1.15pp | #75 |
| 2019 | 56.21% | +0.21pp | #67 |
| 2018 | 56.00% | +0.41pp | #66 |
| 2017 | 55.59% | +0.06pp | #72 |
| 2016 | 55.53% | +0.72pp | #72 |
| 2015 | 54.81% | −0.08pp | #78 |
| 2014 | 54.88% | −0.34pp | #72 |
| 2013 | 55.23% | +0.51pp | #75 |
| 2012 | 54.72% | −0.21pp | #75 |
| 2011 | 54.93% | −0.32pp | #73 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's female labor participation was 59.76% in 2025. Ranked 50th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Ireland's female labor participation peaked at 60.16% in 2023.
The lowest female labor participation in Ireland was 41.72% in 1990.
Ireland ranks 50th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's female labor participation is projected to reach 60.70% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Ireland in 2025 was 59.76%. This ranks 50th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_female-labor-participation,
title = {Ireland Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}