Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean: Employment was 307,384 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Latin America and the Caribbean stood at 307,384. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Latin America and the Caribbean peaked at 307,384 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 166,437, in 1991.
That places Latin America and the Caribbean 28th out of 87 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 166,437 | — |
| 1992 | 171,331 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 176,930 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 180,622 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 183,082 | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 185,151 | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 191,942 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 196,033 | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 198,277 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 201,978 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 207,244 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 210,841 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 216,117 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 222,868 | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 229,592 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 236,172 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 240,947 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 245,954 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 248,438 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 252,434 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 256,641 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 262,207 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 265,395 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 268,886 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 271,960 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 272,472 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 275,852 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 280,138 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 284,114 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 261,945 | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 278,632 | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 292,203 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 297,706 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 302,956 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 307,384 | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 183,312 | 166,437 | 198,277 | 9 |
| 2000s | 226,015 | 201,978 | 248,438 | 10 |
| 2010s | 269,010 | 252,434 | 284,114 | 10 |
| 2020s | 290,138 | 261,945 | 307,384 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America and the Caribbean
More work & labour data for Latin America and the Caribbean
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 331,299 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 198,545 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 62.53 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.34 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 59.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.9209 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 307,384 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 62.53 (2027)
- Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 22,121 (2027)
- NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 19.39 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean was 307,384 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 307,384 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 166,437 in 1991.
- How does Latin America and the Caribbean rank for employment?
- Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 28th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Latin America and the Caribbean 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.