A large and skilled labor force is essential to a country’s economy. According to the World Bank, the global workforce will grow from 3.55 billion people in 2022 to 3.62 billion people in 2023. The global workforce has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, declining from 3.46 billion in 2019 to 3.43 billion in 2020. The significant decline in global employment recovered within a year and exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2021. However, this workforce is unevenly distributed around the world, with some countries having more workers than others.
Look at the top 5 countries with the largest labor force in the world.
5. Brazil
Total Labor Force in 2023: 108,695,239 people
Brazil is the largest country in South America by area, with a population of 215.3 million in 2022, according to the World Bank. As of 2023, the total working population is 108.69 million people, ranking it 5th in the list of the 20 countries with the largest working population in the world.
4. Indonesia
Total Labor Force (as of 2023): 140,931,083 people
According to World Bank estimates, Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia with a total population of 275.5 million in 2022. This is the country of The country ranks fourth on the list with a total working population of 140.93 million in 2023. Indonesia’s labor force decreased from 136.1 million people in 2020 to 134.38 million people in 2021. However, in 2022, it recovered and increased to 138.09 million people.
3. United States
Total labor force in 2023: 170,602,911 people
The United States has the third largest workforce in the world, with 170,602,911 workers in 2023. The country’s population decreased from 167.1 million in 2019 to 165.64. Losses in 2020 were reduced to millions due to the coronavirus pandemic, but have since recovered. It increased to 166.18 million people in 2021, and finally to 168.19 million people in 2022. Although several well-known companies are moving production facilities to other parts of the world, the total workforce in the United States is steadily increasing.
2. India
Total Labor Force in 2023: 593,729,164 people
India ranks second on the list with a total working population of 593,729,164 people in 2023. The country’s total working population has been steadily increasing since 2020. In fact, India’s labor force increased during the economic and industrial recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While most of the world’s workforce is shrinking, India’s workforce increased from 520,273,563 million in 2019 to 520,521,842 million in 2020. Since then, the number has continued to increase, increasing from 535,026,273 million in 2021 to 554,145,127 million in 2022.
1. China
Total Labor Force in 2023: 779,890,786 people
China ranks first in the list of the 20 countries with the largest working population in the world, with a total working population of 779,890,786 in 2023. Over 779,890,786 people. has become the world’s manufacturing hub, and several well-known companies have moved their production facilities to China. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s total labor force decreased to 763,684,716 million in 2020. This number recovered within a year and rose to 780,370,660 million, above pre-pandemic levels. However, the country recorded a decline in the labor force from 2022 to 2023, from 781,808,304 million in 2022 to 779,890,786 million in 2023.