Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 9.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 9.4% for employment in industry (% of total employment) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 10.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 2023.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 47th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.5% | — |
| 1992 | 10.4% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 10.4% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 10.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 10.1% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 10.1% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 10.2% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 10.1% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 10.0% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 10.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 10.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 9.8% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 9.8% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 9.6% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 9.3% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 9.4% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 10.0% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 9.6% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.1% | 9.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 44 Syrian Arab Republic 25.2% compare
- 45 Austria 24.6% compare
- 46 Kuwait 24.6% compare
- 47 Uzbekistan 24.6% compare
- 48 Portugal 24.6% compare
- 49 Mexico 24.5% compare
- 50 Trinidad and Tobago 24.2% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 9.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 2023.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).