Employment in Western Europe
Western Europe: Employment was 96,347 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Western Europe, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Western Europe is 96,347, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Western Europe peaked at 97,290 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 78,625, in 1994.
That places Western Europe 54th 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 Western Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 79,966 | — |
| 1992 | 79,798 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 79,011 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 78,625 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 79,169 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 79,275 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 79,174 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 79,628 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 80,704 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 81,934 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 82,769 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 82,976 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 83,162 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 82,534 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 83,346 | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 84,573 | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 86,074 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 87,281 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 86,838 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 87,292 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 88,420 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 89,045 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 89,566 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 89,844 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 90,554 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 91,610 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 92,634 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 93,759 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 94,694 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 93,623 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 94,600 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 96,346 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 97,290 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 97,078 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 96,347 | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79,483 | 78,625 | 80,704 | 9 |
| 2000s | 84,149 | 81,934 | 87,281 | 10 |
| 2010s | 90,742 | 87,292 | 94,694 | 10 |
| 2020s | 95,881 | 93,623 | 97,290 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Europe
More work & labour data for Western Europe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 91,861 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0749 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0476 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 173,621 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 185,317 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 93,457 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 25,875 1000 No (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Western Europe?
- Employment in Western Europe was 96,347 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 97,290 in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 78,625 in 1994.
- How does Western Europe rank for employment?
- Western Europe ranks 54th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Europe 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.