Employment in Arab States
Arab States: Employment was 61,468 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Arab States, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Arab States recorded 61,468 for employment in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Arab States peaked at 61,468 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17,752, in 1991.
Arab States ranks 61st of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Arab States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17,752 | — |
| 1992 | 18,627 | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 19,474 | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 20,306 | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 21,072 | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 21,928 | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 22,815 | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 23,747 | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 24,744 | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 25,730 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 26,362 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 27,248 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 28,337 | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 29,498 | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 30,812 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 32,358 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 34,223 | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 35,933 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 37,697 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 39,403 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 41,427 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 42,634 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 44,337 | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 46,129 | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 47,185 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 48,958 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 49,005 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 49,553 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 50,694 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 50,226 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 51,436 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 54,903 | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 58,108 | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 59,808 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 61,468 | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21,163 | 17,752 | 24,744 | 9 |
| 2000s | 30,820 | 25,730 | 37,697 | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,933 | 39,403 | 50,694 | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,991 | 50,226 | 61,468 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab States
More work & labour data for Arab States
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 71,228 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 49.25 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 73,387 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 44.58 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.93 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.37 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 61,468 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 49.25 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 12,169 (2027)
- Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 2,432 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Arab States?
- Employment in Arab States was 61,468 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Arab States?
- The highest recorded value was 61,468 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Arab States?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,752 in 1991.
- How does Arab States rank for employment?
- Arab States ranks 61st out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Arab States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Arab States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.