Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Employers, total (% of total employment) was 3.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia is 3.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 79.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia peaked at 3.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1999.
That places South Asia 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.0% | — |
| 1992 | 1.0% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | +18.7% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +15.6% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | +27.8% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | +14.1% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia?
- Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employers, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employers, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1999.
- How does South Asia rank for employers, total (% of total employment)?
- South Asia ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employers, total (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employers, total (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Employers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners, hold the type of jobs defined as a "self-employment jobs" i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced), and, in this capacity, have engaged, on a continuous basis, one or more persons to work for them as employee(s).