Employment rate in Panama
Panama: Employment rate was 60.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Panama, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Panama is 60.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Panama peaked at 64.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 54.1%, in 1991.
That places Panama 67th out of 186 countries 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.9% | 54.1% | 58.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 60.1% | 59.1% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.7% | 60.5% | 64.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.4% | 56.4% | 61.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More work & labour data for Panama
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 70.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 54.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 82.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Panama?
- Employment rate in Panama was 60.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.1% in 1991.
- How does Panama rank for employment rate?
- Panama ranks 67th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.