Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 1,155 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in Puerto Rico, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Puerto Rico stood at 1,155.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Puerto Rico peaked at 1,253 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 974.06, in 2017.
That places Puerto Rico 140th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,000 | — |
| 1992 | 1,005 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 1,054 | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 1,086 | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 1,096 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 1,132 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 1,162 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 1,175 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 1,204 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 1,201 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 1,193 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 1,193 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1,213 | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 1,236 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 1,253 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1,248 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1,223 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 1,183 | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 1,097 | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 1,051 | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 1,019 | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 1,015 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 999.26 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 974.65 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 984.72 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 985.19 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 974.06 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 982.46 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 1,000 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 1,015 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1,078 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 1,117 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 1,133 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 1,152 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 1,155 | +0.2% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 1,155 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2,958, 39% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 1,155 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3,152, 37% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,101 | 1,000 | 1,204 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1,204 | 1,097 | 1,253 | 10 |
| 2010s | 998.59 | 974.06 | 1,051 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,108 | 1,015 | 1,155 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More work & labour data for Puerto Rico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -2.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -2.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 142.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 521.69 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 473.93 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 995.62 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Puerto Rico?
- Employment in Puerto Rico was 1,155 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 1,253 in 2005.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 974.06 in 2017.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for employment?
- Puerto Rico ranks 140th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.
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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.