Employment in World: High income
World: High income: Employment was 701,318 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in World: High income, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in World: High income is 701,318, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in World: High income peaked at 701,614 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 536,766, in 1993.
That places World: High income 16th out of 87 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in World: High income, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 539,656 | — |
| 1992 | 539,547 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 536,766 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 538,081 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 542,737 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 546,639 | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 550,609 | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 552,756 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 561,627 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 570,418 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 573,411 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 576,614 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 580,272 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 587,126 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 596,056 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 606,262 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 616,782 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 622,074 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 609,892 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 612,356 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 618,712 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 625,038 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 629,687 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 638,218 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 646,210 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 655,468 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 664,107 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 672,925 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 680,190 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 661,605 | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 673,043 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 689,396 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 699,104 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 701,614 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 701,318 | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 545,380 | 536,766 | 561,627 | 9 |
| 2000s | 593,891 | 570,418 | 622,074 | 10 |
| 2010s | 644,291 | 612,356 | 680,190 | 10 |
| 2020s | 687,680 | 661,605 | 701,614 | 6 |
Countries ranked near World: High income
- 13 Ethiopia 54,892 compare
- 14 Philippines 51,037 compare
- 15 Germany 42,226 compare
- 16 Thailand 40,552 compare
- 17 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 37,479 compare
- 18 Türkiye 34,450 compare
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 33,760 compare
More work & labour data for World: High income
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 733,222 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.52 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 478,257 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.85 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.01 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.0093 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 701,318 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 60.52 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 18,342 (2027)
- Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 17,402 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in World: High income?
- Employment in World: High income was 701,318 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in World: High income?
- The highest recorded value was 701,614 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in World: High income?
- The lowest recorded value was 536,766 in 1993.
- How does World: High income rank for employment?
- World: High income ranks 16th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in World: High income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World: High income 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
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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.