Employment in industry (% of total employment) in European Union
European Union: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 23.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in European Union, 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 European Union is 23.9%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in European Union peaked at 33.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2025.
European Union ranks 19th 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 European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 33.9% | — |
| 1992 | 33.4% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 32.8% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 32.3% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 32.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 31.5% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 31.3% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 31.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 30.7% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 30.4% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 30.1% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 29.9% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 29.3% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 29.1% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 28.7% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 28.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 28.3% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 27.1% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 26.4% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 26.0% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 25.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 25.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 25.1% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 25.1% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 25.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 25.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 25.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 24.8% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 24.6% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 24.3% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 24.2% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 23.9% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.1% | 30.7% | 33.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.0% | 27.1% | 30.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.4% | 25.0% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.5% | 23.9% | 25.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 16 Belarus 31.1% compare
- 17 North Macedonia 30.6% compare
- 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
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in European Union?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in European Union was 23.9% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 33.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2025.
- How does European Union rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- European Union ranks 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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).