Employment-to-population ratio Metadata

Employment-to-population ratio

Employment-to-population ratio

EmploymentPopRatio

The employment-to-population ratio represents the share of persons who are employed as a percentage of the total working-age population, regardless of employment formality. In some contexts, this indicator is used interchangeably with “employment rate,” provided that the latter includes both formal and informal employment. The employed population comprises all persons of working age who, during a specified short reference period, were in one of the following categories: (a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or (b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). The working-age population is defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as all persons aged 15 years and older. However, some countries and organizations apply an upper age limit or use a subset of this range. For example, the OECD defines the working-age population as individuals aged 15 to 64 years.

The employment-to-population ratio is a key indicator for tracking the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons. It measures the share of employed individuals as a percentage of the working-age population, regardless of whether employment is formal or informal. Understanding this ratio in displacement and statelessness contexts provides critical insights into the economic status of persons of concern and informs humanitarian and development programming. First, the indicator sheds light on livelihood opportunities available to displaced populations, which are essential for achieving self-reliance and reducing dependency on humanitarian assistance. Second, it reflects the absorptive capacity of host economies, indicating whether labor markets can integrate an active labor force effectively and efficiently. Third, it provides information on the economic capacity and vulnerability of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, enabling comparisons with nationals and migrants in the same area and guiding program design to address gaps.

The Employment-to-Population Ratio (EPR) is calculated as a percentage of persons who are employed as a percent of the total of working-age population in the following equation: EPR (%) = 100 x Persons employed / Working-age population.

International definition and standards

Interpretation of employment indicators requires caution due to several limitations. First, legal definitions of the “working-age population” vary across countries and organizations. While the ILO defines it as all persons aged 15 years and older, some entities apply an upper age limit or use narrower ranges, such as 15–64 years. These differences affect comparability of employment-to-population ratios and unemployment rates across contexts. Second, the inclusion of informal work is inconsistent. In some cases, employment indicators encompass both formal and informal activities, while in others, only individuals with formal contracts are counted as employed. This definitional variation can lead to significant discrepancies and limits the ability to extrapolate employment figures using formulas such as “1−unemployment rate”. For forcibly displaced and stateless persons who often rely on informal or self-employment, such inconsistencies can obscure the true extent of labor market participation.