Employment in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Employment was 625.37 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Timor-Leste, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Timor-Leste is 625.37, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Timor-Leste peaked at 625.37 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 287.49, in 2000.
That places Timor-Leste 157th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 310.38 | — |
| 1992 | 317.52 | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 324.94 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 332.88 | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 341.16 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 349.48 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 358.98 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 369.97 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 334.69 | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 287.49 | -14.1% |
| 2001 | 312.35 | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 341.04 | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 356.5 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 361.12 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 367.87 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 379.01 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 387.48 | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 396.07 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 405.47 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 414.64 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 424.68 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 435.5 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 447.29 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 459.45 | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 472.63 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 481.7 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 500 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 518.5 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 531.49 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 543.7 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 565.85 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 584.79 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 596.91 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 610.92 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 625.37 | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 337.78 | 310.38 | 369.97 | 9 |
| 2000s | 359.44 | 287.49 | 405.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 468.59 | 414.64 | 531.49 | 10 |
| 2020s | 587.92 | 543.7 | 625.37 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
- 154 Estonia 680.25 compare
- 155 Equatorial Guinea 676.46 compare
- 156 Gabon 674.02 compare
- 158 Mauritius 598.85 compare
- 159 Solomon Islands 442.08 compare
- 160 Macau, China 412.79 compare
More work & labour data for Timor-Leste
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 321 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 667.78 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 67.53 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.34 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.18 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 0 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 62.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Timor-Leste?
- Employment in Timor-Leste was 625.37 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 625.37 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 287.49 in 2000.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for employment?
- Timor-Leste ranks 157th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.