1.1. Contact organisation
[4D0] European Commission (including Eurostat)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
[4D1_E2] Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
European Commission
Eurostat – Statistical Office of the European Union
L-2920 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
26 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
29 April 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
29 April 2026
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, which are embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under the 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societes and our social model'.
In order to promote women’s social and economic empowerment, SDG 5 calls for, among other things, recognition and value of unpaid care and domestic work, equal rights and access to economic and natural resources, technology, basic and financial services and property. One of the principles addresses that women and men shall have equal access to special leaves of absence in order to fulfil their caring responsibilities and be encouraged to use them in a balanced way. SDG 8 recognises the importance of sustained economic growth and high levels of economic productivity for the creation of well-paid quality jobs and the achievement of global prosperity. SDG 8 calls, among other things, for providing opportunities for full and productive employment and decent work for all.
The European Pillar of Social Rights, jointly proclaimed by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council in 2017, sets out 20 key principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and social protection systems.
The Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 puts forward concrete actions to embed gender equality into every aspect of life, both online and offline, from education and health to work and leadership. It enlarges the scope of the previous strategy by covering all the principles of the Roadmap for Women’s Rights. In addition to ensuring that recently adopted gender equality legislation is duly implemented, the strategy tackles threats such as gender-based cyberviolence, anti-gender narratives and AI-related risks, which particularly affect women. It adopts an intersectional perspective throughout, and combines gender mainstreaming with targeted actions. At the same time, it seeks to further engage men and boys as key actors and beneficiaries of gender equality. It further enhances consistency between internal and external gender equality policy, and pays due attention to the institutional mechanisms necessary to deliver on gender equality, including funding and support to civil society.
4.1. Data description
The population outside the labour force comprises individuals who are not employed and are either not actively seeking work or not available to work (even if they have found a job that will start in the future). Therefore, they are neither employed nor unemployed. This definition used in the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) is based on the resolutions of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The reason for being outside the labour force covered by this indicator includes ‘care of adults with disabilities or children’, which includes care for own children or spouse’s children living inside or outside the household and care for adult ill/elderly/incapacitated/disables relatives (aged 15 or more) but excludes care responsibilities for friends, non-relatives or their children, care as a job, and care as a volunteer work. Only people who express willingness to work, despite being outside the labour force, are considered.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of total population aged 20 to 64, by sex
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS (LFS)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Sttistical System (ESS); EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually in April. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented times series start in 2000; EU aggregates are reported since 2002.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
Break in time series in 2021 was due to the entry into force of the Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 and is fully detailed in the Eurostat dedicated article LFS – correction for breaks in time series.
The substantial non-response rate and a biased sample for Germany in 2020 impacted largely the comparability of 2020 results for both Germany and the EU with the series over time. For more information see a Note on Coherence and Availability of EU-LFS data.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_05_40
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
