Own-account workers, total in North America
North America: Own-account workers, total was 6.6% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, total in North America, 1991–2016
Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total employment.
Analysis
In 2016, own-account workers, total in North America stood at 6.6%. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in North America peaked at 8.3% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2016.
That places North America 25th out of 25 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, total in North America, year by year
| Year | % of total employment | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.3% | — |
| 1992 | 8.0% | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 8.2% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 8.1% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 8.1% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 8.0% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 6.9% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 6.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.1% | 7.6% | 8.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 6.6% | 7.1% | 7 |
Countries ranked near North America
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, total in North America?
- Own-account workers, total in North America was 6.6% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
- What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3% in 1994.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2016.
- How does North America rank for own-account workers, total?
- North America ranks 25th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Own-account workers, total (% of total employment). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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