Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 25.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia stood at 25.1%.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia peaked at 25.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 1994.
That places South Asia 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.1% | — |
| 1992 | 15.0% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 14.9% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 15.0% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 15.2% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 16.1% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 16.7% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 17.1% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 17.8% | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 18.5% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 19.1% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 20.3% | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 20.7% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 21.4% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 22.2% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 23.2% | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 24.3% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 24.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 24.5% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.5% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 24.7% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 24.7% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 23.3% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 23.8% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 25.2% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 24.3% | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 24.6% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 25.1% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.3% | 14.9% | 16.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 16.2% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.2% | 22.2% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.4% | 23.3% | 25.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Asia was 25.1% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 1994.
- How does South Asia rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- South Asia ranks 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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).