Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 12.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Least developed countries, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 12.2% for employment in industry (% of total employment) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in Least developed countries peaked at 12.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 1996.
Least developed countries ranks 40th of 47 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.8% | — |
| 1992 | 10.6% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 10.1% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 10.1% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 10.1% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 10.3% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 10.4% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 10.8% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 11.1% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 11.5% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 12.2% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 12.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 12.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 12.5% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 12.5% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 12.1% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 12.2% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 12.2% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 12.4% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 12.0% | 12.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More work & labour data for Least developed countries
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 49.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 52.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 54.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 65.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in Least developed countries?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in Least developed countries was 12.2% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 12.7% in 2014.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 1996.
- How does Least developed countries rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- Least developed countries ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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).