The ratio of employed persons to the total civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years old or older. Also termed the employment rate, the employment-population ratio is used as an alternative to the unemployment rate as an indicator of the utilization of labor resources.

The macroeconomic statistic that takes the ratio of the total working age of the labor force currently employed to the total working age population of a region, municipality or country. It is calculated by:

(Labor Force Employed) / (Total Population)

The working force and population only include individuals within the working age.

For the U.S., this statistic is reflected in the employment situation report.

Some restrictions in the calculation could come from not including black market labor, workers under or over the working age limits, and hours worked. The employment ratio is also subject to some manipulation by reporting agencies as well, and may be skewed in order to give the perception that an economy, based on this metric, is performing better then it really is.

For example, the numerator does not account for individuals who are currently enrolled in an educational institution and not working. These students are unemployed by choice but it still results in a lower calculation.