Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women was 5.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
5.2%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
56th
of 82 countries
All-time high
9.3%
in 2007
All-time low
2.3%
in 2010
Years of data
12
2007–2018

Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2007–2018

2468102007201220182007: 9.3 %2008: 6.8 %2009: 7 %2010: 2.3 %2011: 3.3 %2012: 4.9 %2013: 3.8 %2014: 3.2 %2015: 3.3 %2016: 3 %2017: 6 %2018: 5.2 %

Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 5.2% for share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in 2018.

That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 9.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2010.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 56th of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2007 to 2018.
Year % Change
2007 9.3%
2008 6.8% -26.5%
2009 7.0% +2.1%
2010 2.3% -66.5%
2011 3.3% +42.1%
2012 4.9% +47.4%
2013 3.8% -23.2%
2014 3.2% -14.4%
2015 3.3% +3.4%
2016 3.0% -9.3%
2017 6.0% +98.0%
2018 5.2% -12.2%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 5.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 2.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 5.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.6%, 2.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.7% 6.8% 9.3% 3
2010s 3.9% 2.3% 6.0% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 53 North Macedonia 13.3% compare
  2. 54 Poland 7.8% compare
  3. 55 Slovakia 5.5% compare
  4. 57 Portugal 4.3% compare
  5. 58 Lithuania 3.2% compare
  6. 59 Italy 3.1% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.2% in 2018, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2007.
What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2010.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 56th out of 82 countries with data for 2018.
Is share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/male-vs-female-informal-employment-as-share-of-total-employment/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of workers in informal employment: men vs. women
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
82 places, 1,190 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Share of employed males working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.