Employment in services (% of total employment) in European Union
European Union: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 72.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% 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 services (% of total employment) in European Union is 72.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in European Union peaked at 72.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 56.1%, in 1991.
European Union ranks 6th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.1% | — |
| 1992 | 56.8% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 57.6% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 58.3% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 59.0% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 59.7% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 60.2% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 60.4% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 61.2% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 61.9% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 62.4% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 63.2% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 63.8% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 65.0% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 65.4% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 65.7% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 66.6% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 67.8% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 68.4% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 69.0% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 69.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 69.9% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 70.1% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 70.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 70.7% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 71.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 71.3% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 71.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 72.1% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 72.5% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 72.9% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.8% | 56.1% | 61.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 64.6% | 61.9% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.0% | 68.4% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.9% | 71.1% | 72.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 3 Macau, China 88.6% compare
- 4 Singapore 85.9% compare
- 5 Hong Kong, China 85.8% compare
- 6 Channel Islands 85.3% compare
- 7 Netherlands 84.5% compare
- 8 Bahamas 84.4% compare
- 9 Puerto Rico 84.1% 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 services (% of total employment) in European Union?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in European Union was 72.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 72.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.1% in 1991.
- How does European Union rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- European Union ranks 6th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 services (% 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 services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).