Employment in South America
South America: Employment was 206,717 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in South America, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in South America is 206,717, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in South America peaked at 206,717 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 115,360, in 1991.
South America ranks 42nd of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 115,360 | — |
| 1992 | 118,694 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 122,700 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 125,304 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 127,294 | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 127,526 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 131,645 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 134,177 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 135,093 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 137,604 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 141,998 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 144,712 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 148,576 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 154,110 | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 158,700 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 163,287 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 166,539 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 170,306 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 172,403 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 175,038 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 177,556 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 180,313 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 182,459 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 184,773 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 185,944 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 185,019 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 186,742 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 189,128 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 191,424 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 174,957 | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 185,902 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 196,728 | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 199,785 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 203,629 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 206,717 | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 126,421 | 115,360 | 135,093 | 9 |
| 2000s | 155,824 | 137,604 | 172,403 | 10 |
| 2010s | 183,840 | 175,038 | 191,424 | 10 |
| 2020s | 194,620 | 174,957 | 206,717 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 39 Saudi Arabia 16,665 compare
- 40 Madagascar 16,572 compare
- 41 Mozambique 14,620 compare
- 42 Australia 14,170 compare
- 43 Angola 14,019 compare
- 44 Uzbekistan 13,962 compare
- 45 Ghana 12,856 compare
More work & labour data for South America
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 188,449 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 379,097 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6536 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6333 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6731 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3248 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 190,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 450,619 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 49,401 1000 No (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in South America?
- Employment in South America was 206,717 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 206,717 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 115,360 in 1991.
- How does South America rank for employment?
- South America ranks 42nd out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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.