Employment by main: national accounts annual data in Iceland
Iceland: Employment by main: national accounts annual data was 320,713 Thousand hours worked in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
320,713 Thousand hours worked
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
44th
of 44 countries
All-time high
325,971 Thousand hours worked
in 2024
All-time low
229,489 Thousand hours worked
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment by main industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts - annual in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand hours worked.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 320,713 Thousand hours worked for employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual in Iceland peaked at 325,971 Thousand hours worked in 2024 and was at its lowest, 229,489 Thousand hours worked, in 1991.
That places Iceland 44th out of 44 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment by main: national accounts annual data in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand hours worked | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 229,489 Thousand hours worked | — |
| 1992 | 231,355 Thousand hours worked | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 231,498 Thousand hours worked | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 232,348 Thousand hours worked | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 235,261 Thousand hours worked | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 238,315 Thousand hours worked | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 240,916 Thousand hours worked | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 245,150 Thousand hours worked | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 251,424 Thousand hours worked | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 256,541 Thousand hours worked | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 257,164 Thousand hours worked | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 253,741 Thousand hours worked | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 250,851 Thousand hours worked | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 253,197 Thousand hours worked | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 260,959 Thousand hours worked | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 270,496 Thousand hours worked | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 276,745 Thousand hours worked | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 291,399 Thousand hours worked | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 252,889 Thousand hours worked | -13.2% |
| 2010 | 248,276 Thousand hours worked | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 252,641 Thousand hours worked | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 254,961 Thousand hours worked | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 261,084 Thousand hours worked | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 265,608 Thousand hours worked | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 272,808 Thousand hours worked | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 286,823 Thousand hours worked | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 296,442 Thousand hours worked | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 303,182 Thousand hours worked | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 299,582 Thousand hours worked | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 282,341 Thousand hours worked | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 285,506 Thousand hours worked | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 305,701 Thousand hours worked | +7.1% |
| 2023 | 317,960 Thousand hours worked | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 325,971 Thousand hours worked | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 320,713 Thousand hours worked | -1.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 320,713 Thousand hours worked is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.62 million Thousand hours worked, 6% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 320,713 Thousand hours worked is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.53 million Thousand hours worked, 5% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 237,306 Thousand hours worked | 229,489 Thousand hours worked | 251,424 Thousand hours worked | 9 |
| 2000s | 262,398 Thousand hours worked | 250,851 Thousand hours worked | 291,399 Thousand hours worked | 10 |
| 2010s | 274,141 Thousand hours worked | 248,276 Thousand hours worked | 303,182 Thousand hours worked | 10 |
| 2020s | 306,365 Thousand hours worked | 282,341 Thousand hours worked | 325,971 Thousand hours worked | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 41 Luxembourg 761,228 Thousand hours worked compare
- 42 Montenegro 678,660 Thousand hours worked compare
- 43 Malta 625,503 Thousand hours worked compare
More work & labour data for Iceland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4501 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2312 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 373.77 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16.3 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 169.5 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 193.08 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 362.58 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual in Iceland?
- Employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual in Iceland was 320,713 Thousand hours worked in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 325,971 Thousand hours worked in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 229,489 Thousand hours worked in 1991.
- How does Iceland rank for employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual?
- Iceland ranks 44th out of 44 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment by main industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts - annual rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employment by main industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts - annual data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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