The unemployment rate is probably the best-known labour market measure and is certainly one of the most widely quoted by the media. The unemployment rate is a useful measure of the underutilization of the labour supply. It reflects the inability of an economy to generate employment for those persons who want to work but are not doing so, even though they are available for employment and actively seeking work.
Other measures of labour underutilization recognized in the international statistical standards are time-related underemployment and the potential labour force.
Finding work can be tough for people with disabilities. While the number of people with disabilities in the workforce has been rising in many countries, in part due to changing attitudes and improved legislation, if you have a disability, you’re still more likely to be out of work than a person who doesn’t.
It’s easy to find statistics about how well the labour market is doing, but scratch below the surface and you’ll find a growing number of men dropping out of the workforce.
Discover the patterns around the world of unemployment and other forms of labour underutilization, including time-related underemployment, the potential labour force and over-education.
*Replaced by the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization
The leading source of labour statistics
The ILO Department of Statistics is the focal point to the United Nations on labour statistics. We develop international standards for better measurement of labour issues and enhanced international comparability; provide relevant, timely and comparable labour statistics; and help Member States develop and improve their labour statistics.
Department of Statistics, International Labour Organization
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