United States vs World: Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) over time
- United States
- World
How they compare
United States currently reports 79.6% against 50.6% in World, a difference of 29.0%.
That makes United States's figure about 1.6 times World's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
United States ranks 23rd and World ranks 22nd of 187 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United States | World | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.8% | 37.7% | 36.1% | United States |
| 2000s | 76.1% | 41.9% | 34.2% | United States |
| 2010s | 78.5% | 47.5% | 31.0% | United States |
| 2020s | 79.2% | 49.9% | 29.3% | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher employment in services (% of total employment), United States or World?
- United States, at 79.6% against 50.6% in World as of 2025.
- What is the difference in employment in services (% of total employment) between United States and World?
- 29.0%, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United States and World?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do United States and World rank globally for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- United States ranks 23rd and World ranks 22nd of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).