Employment in Europe and Central Asia
Europe and Central Asia: Employment was 428,680 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Europe and Central Asia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Europe and Central Asia recorded 428,680 for employment in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Europe and Central Asia peaked at 429,692 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 351,000, in 1997.
Europe and Central Asia ranks 22nd of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Europe and Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 366,929 | — |
| 1992 | 363,992 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 356,798 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 353,540 | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 352,946 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 352,177 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 351,000 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 351,254 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 357,546 | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 362,128 | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 364,891 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 368,201 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 370,367 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 372,526 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 377,251 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 382,576 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 389,539 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 393,521 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 386,825 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 388,800 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 392,331 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 393,758 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 394,412 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 397,396 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 401,357 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 406,319 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 411,062 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 415,880 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 417,698 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 410,554 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 415,469 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 423,261 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 427,716 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 429,692 | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 428,680 | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 356,242 | 351,000 | 366,929 | 9 |
| 2000s | 376,782 | 362,128 | 393,521 | 10 |
| 2010s | 401,901 | 388,800 | 417,698 | 10 |
| 2020s | 422,562 | 410,554 | 429,692 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Central Asia
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 33,760 compare
- 20 Egypt 33,658 compare
- 21 Tanzania, United Republic of 33,517 compare
- 22 France 29,352 compare
- 23 Republic of Korea 29,054 compare
- 24 Iran, Islamic Republic of 27,071 compare
- 25 Colombia 24,852 compare
More work & labour data for Europe and Central Asia
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 452,116 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 57.53 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 333,753 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 54.39 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.1537 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 428,680 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 57.53 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 15,014 (2027)
- Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 14,128 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Europe and Central Asia?
- Employment in Europe and Central Asia was 428,680 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Europe and Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 429,692 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Europe and Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 351,000 in 1997.
- How does Europe and Central Asia rank for employment?
- Europe and Central Asia ranks 22nd out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Europe and Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe and Central Asia 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.