LFS estimates were updated on 22nd Feb 2024 to incorporate updated population estimates for the period 2016 Q3 to 2023 Q3, based on the results of Census 2022. LFS results are updated in this way following each Census of Population. For further information see Background Notes.
The data in this publication does not reflect these updates. Please refer to the relevant tables on LFS Px-stat for updated LFS estimates.
There were 2,686,500 persons aged 15-89 years in the labour force in Q4 2022, using standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria. This represented an increase of 53,200 or 2.0% over the year. This compares with an annual labour force increase of 214,800 (+8.9%) in Q4 2021 and a decrease of 49,300 (-2.0%) in Q4 2020. See Table 2.1.
The number of males in the labour force increased by 2.1% (+29,500) to 1,425,700 in the year to Q4 2022, while the number of females in the labour force increased by 1.9% (+23,700) to 1,260,800. See Table 2.1.
The participation rate for all persons aged 15 years and over stood at 64.6% in Q4 2022 down from 65.1% a year earlier. In Q4 2022, the participation rate for males was 70.1% compared to 59.3% for females.
Labour market participation among those aged 15-24 years stood at 51.4% in Q4 2022. The participation rate was highest among the 25-34 and 23-44 year-old age groups at 86.5% and 87.0% respectively. See Tables 2.1 and 2.2.
The number of people in the labour force is influenced by changes in the size of the working age population (the demographic effect). Up to late 2008, this demographic effect added at least 30,000 to the labour force each year, driven mainly by immigration, peaking at 90,500 in Q2 2007.
The positive demographic effect started to fall in the second half of 2007 as immigration decreased. It continued to fall in 2008 and 2009 and was negative between Q3 2009 and Q1 2014. The demographic effect turned positive again in Q2 2014 and has remained positive since then, contributing an increase of 72,400 to the labour force in the year to Q4 2022.
In addition to the demographic effect, the change in the size of the labour force is influenced by changes in participation. The overall participation rate decreased by 0.5 points to 64.6% over the year. The net result of changes in individual age groups for the same period was a negative participation effect of 19,300. See Tables 2.1 and 2.2.
