The labor force, or working population, is composed of all individuals who meet the criteria for inclusion among employees (civil employment plus the armed forces) or the unemployed. This includes those who have a job or are actively looking for one. The labor force is the total number of people who are currently employed plus those who are unemployed and searching for employment. This figure does not include people who are unemployed and not looking for work, such as students and retirees.
Those who want a job but are not currently searching for one are also not considered part of the workforce. In summary, the labor force consists of those who have a job or are actively seeking one. The labor force is the sum of people in employment plus those unemployed and looking for work. The workforce does not include those unemployed who are not looking for work.
People who are not part of the workforce are those who, during the reference week, were unwilling or unable to offer or provide labor services under the conditions existing in their labor markets (this includes people studying full time and currently attending school). The labor force, or economically active population, also known as the working population, includes both employees (employed and self-employed) and the unemployed, but not those who are economically inactive, such as preschool children, schoolchildren, students and pensioners.