workingage

Working-age refers to the portion of a population considered capable of and generally expected to participate in the labor market. In most statistical practice, this group is defined as people aged 15 to 64, though the exact ages vary by country and organization (some use 16 to 64 or 15 to 69).

It is used to assess labor supply, economic burden, and fiscal needs. The share of people in the working-age bracket helps estimate dependency ratios, project pension and health-care costs, and evaluate potential for economic growth or demographic stress. Definitions influence cross-country comparisons.

However, being within the working-age range does not guarantee employment. Many are students, retirees, homemakers, or inactive due to disability, caregiving, or discouragement. Conversely, there are workers outside the standard range in some contexts and informal economies. The concept focuses on potential rather than actual employment.

Demographic shifts such as aging populations or changes in birth rates affect the size of the working-age group. A shrinking working-age population can raise concerns about labor supply, while a growing share can improve the support ratio for dependents. Policy responses include retirement age, education, immigration, and labor-market reforms.

Common indicators include the share of the population in the working-age band, labor force participation rate, employment-to-population ratio, and unemployment rate. Related measures include the old-age dependency ratio and the support ratio, which compare dependents to the working-age population.