Employment in India
India: Employment was 591,572 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in India, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in India stood at 591,572. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in India peaked at 591,572 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 291,743, in 1991.
India ranks 2nd 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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 291,743 | — |
| 1992 | 299,236 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 306,876 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 314,926 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 324,737 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 335,019 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 345,369 | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 356,079 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 367,222 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 378,533 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 386,895 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 394,970 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 403,415 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 411,951 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 420,487 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 423,044 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 425,425 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 427,253 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 429,451 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 431,879 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 435,985 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 439,704 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 447,271 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 454,959 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 462,445 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 469,967 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 477,314 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 484,171 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 496,783 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 490,677 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 515,239 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 541,716 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 564,896 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 583,107 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 591,572 | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 326,801 | 291,743 | 367,222 | 9 |
| 2000s | 410,142 | 378,533 | 429,451 | 10 |
| 2010s | 460,048 | 431,879 | 496,783 | 10 |
| 2020s | 547,868 | 490,677 | 591,572 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More work & labour data for India
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5078 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 876,613 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 782,365 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 743,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 761,710 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.51 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in India?
- Employment in India was 591,572 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 591,572 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 291,743 in 1991.
- How does India rank for employment?
- India ranks 2nd out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.