UK participation rate: aged 15 to 24
UK participation rate: aged 15 to 24 stood at 54.53% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT). It is one of the indicators in the Labour force, ILO annual table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1966 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour force, ILO annual table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation rate, Both sexes | |||||||||||
| Aged 15 to 24 | 54.53 | 52.69 | 53.73 | 54.43 | 51.32 | 54.77 | 54.79 | 56.35 | 56.71 | 57.26 | |
| Aged 25 to 54 | 87.43 | 86.84 | 87.13 | 87.02 | 87.44 | 87.47 | 87 | 86.86 | 86.51 | 86 |
Understanding UK participation rate: aged 15 to 24
Youth economic attachment across the United Kingdom is captured by calculating the ratio of individuals aged 15 to 24 who either hold a job or actively search for one relative to the total resident population in that specific age bracket. Unlike broader demographic aggregates spanning mature cohorts, this subset captures individuals transitioning from full-time education into the workforce, making it particularly sensitive to academic term schedules, higher education participation shifts, and entry-level hiring conditions. The numerator encompasses students undertaking paid employment alongside unemployed youth seeking positions, whereas full-time students without jobs who are not looking or available for work remain outside the active labour force framework.
Interpreting annual movements requires caution regarding how structural changes in educational enrolment alter the underlying denominator over time. Early annual estimates frequently undergo retrospective adjustments once administrative registers and population weightings are fully reconciled. Year-on-year comparisons are standard for smoothing out predictable seasonal variation tied to the academic calendar, yet analysts must separate genuine shifts in youth job availability from prolonged stays in tertiary education. Direct comparisons with prime-age or older groups can mislead because youth participation reacts far more sharply to economic downturns and policy changes affecting school retention ages.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does this series focus specifically on ages 15 to 24?
- This age bracket isolates the cohort undergoing the transition from compulsory education or higher education into initial employment.
- Are students who work part-time included in the active labour force?
- Yes, anyone aged 15 to 24 engaged in paid work for even one hour during the reference week is counted as employed.
- How does education expansion impact this metric?
- Higher rates of university attendance tend to lower youth participation because full-time students often report no labour market attachment.