Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 15.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central is 15.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 15.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.4%, in 1995.
That places Africa Western and Central 36th out of 47 groups 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 industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.7% | — |
| 1992 | 10.7% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 10.5% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 10.5% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 10.5% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 10.6% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 10.8% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 11.2% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 11.6% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 12.7% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 13.3% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 13.2% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 14.6% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 15.5% | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 15.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 15.6% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 15.7% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.5% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.0% | 10.6% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 11.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.0% | 15.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central was 15.7% 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.4% in 1995.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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).