Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 23.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia recorded 23.7% for employment in industry (% of total employment) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 32.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 2025.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 21st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 32.8% | — |
| 1992 | 32.2% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 31.7% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 30.7% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 29.9% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 29.3% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 28.6% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 28.4% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 28.0% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 27.9% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 27.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 27.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 27.4% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 27.4% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 27.2% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 27.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 27.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 27.0% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 25.4% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 25.0% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 24.9% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 24.6% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 24.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 24.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 24.3% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 24.3% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 24.1% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 23.9% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 23.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 23.7% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.2% | 28.0% | 32.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 27.3% | 25.9% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.9% | 24.5% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.0% | 23.7% | 24.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 18 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30.6% compare
- 19 United Arab Emirates 30.6% compare
- 20 Hungary 30.5% compare
- 21 Poland 30.0% compare
- 22 Palestine, State of 29.9% compare
- 23 Egypt 29.4% compare
- 24 Cambodia 28.9% compare
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Europe & Central Asia was 23.7% 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 21st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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).