Employment in services (% of total employment) in World
World: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 50.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in World, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in services (% of total employment) in World stood at 50.6%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in World peaked at 50.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.4%, in 1991.
World ranks 22nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.4% | — |
| 1992 | 35.7% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 36.5% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 37.2% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 38.0% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 38.6% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 39.1% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 39.4% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 39.6% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 40.2% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 41.1% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 41.8% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 42.3% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 42.9% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 43.2% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 43.7% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 44.2% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 44.6% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 45.1% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 45.6% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 46.4% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 47.3% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 48.1% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 48.6% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 49.1% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 50.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 49.5% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 49.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 49.5% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 49.9% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 50.3% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 50.6% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.7% | 35.4% | 39.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 41.9% | 39.3% | 44.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.5% | 44.6% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 49.5% | 50.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
More work & labour data for World
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1316 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1143 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.688 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6.68 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3.09 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5.10 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5.08 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10.18 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services (% of total employment) in World?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in World was 50.6% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.4% in 1991.
- How does World rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- World ranks 22nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World 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.
Download this data
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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).