Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in United States
United States: Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy was 166.71 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in United States, 1985–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in United States is 166.71 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in United States peaked at 166.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 108.76 million, in 1985.
That places United States 1st out of 29 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 108.76 million | — |
| 1986 | 110.58 million | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 112.47 million | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 114.41 million | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 116.38 million | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 118.36 million | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 120.32 million | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 122.29 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 124.37 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 126.58 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 128.95 million | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 131.52 million | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 134.26 million | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 137.06 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 139.74 million | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 142.17 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 144.08 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 145.39 million | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 146.25 million | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 146.88 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 147.45 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 148.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 148.75 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 149.42 million | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 150.13 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 150.93 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 151.83 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 152.87 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 154.10 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 155.47 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 156.94 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 158.42 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 159.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 160.82 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 161.60 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 162.15 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 162.69 million | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 163.52 million | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 164.62 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 165.69 million | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 166.71 million | +0.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 166.71 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.23 million, 31.9× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 112.52 million | 108.76 million | 116.38 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 128.35 million | 118.36 million | 139.74 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 146.86 million | 142.17 million | 150.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 156.27 million | 150.93 million | 161.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 164.23 million | 162.15 million | 166.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in United States?
- Economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in United States was 166.71 million in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 166.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 108.76 million in 1985.
- How does United States rank for economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy?
- United States ranks 1st out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
May 2024 - The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2024), OECD Economic Outlook No 115 (Edition 2024/1) EO115 Database documentation EO115 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords: Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP