Employment in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Employment was 54,892 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Ethiopia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Ethiopia is 54,892, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Ethiopia peaked at 54,892 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21,168, in 1991.
Ethiopia ranks 13th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21,168 | — |
| 1992 | 22,044 | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 22,810 | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 23,589 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 24,361 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 25,066 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 25,753 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 26,393 | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 27,065 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 27,897 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 28,823 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 29,756 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 30,728 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 31,804 | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 32,943 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 34,075 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 35,233 | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 36,465 | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 37,759 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 39,157 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 40,642 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 42,191 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 43,762 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 44,466 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 45,159 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 45,822 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 46,468 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 47,032 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 47,555 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 47,175 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 47,998 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 50,011 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 51,617 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 53,250 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 54,892 | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24,250 | 21,168 | 27,065 | 9 |
| 2000s | 32,548 | 27,897 | 37,759 | 10 |
| 2010s | 44,225 | 39,157 | 47,555 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,824 | 47,175 | 54,892 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More work & labour data for Ethiopia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4959 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1765 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 74,537 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 116,333 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 183,282 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 184,008 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 367,290 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Ethiopia?
- Employment in Ethiopia was 54,892 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 54,892 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,168 in 1991.
- How does Ethiopia rank for employment?
- Ethiopia ranks 13th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.