SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland
Ireland: SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total was 3.42 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland, 2007–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 3.42 for sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total in 2025.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland peaked at 10.75 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.17, in 2020.
Ireland ranks 70th of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 10.16 | — |
| 2008 | 8.94 | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 7.38 | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 10.75 | +45.6% |
| 2011 | 6.76 | -37.1% |
| 2012 | 3.53 | -47.9% |
| 2013 | 5.17 | +46.6% |
| 2014 | 6.04 | +16.9% |
| 2015 | 3.75 | -38.0% |
| 2016 | 3.51 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 3.41 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.41 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.41 | -58.6% |
| 2020 | 1.17 | -16.9% |
| 2021 | 1.99 | +69.7% |
| 2022 | 3.13 | +57.0% |
| 2023 | 3.16 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 3.9 | +23.2% |
| 2025 | 3.42 | -12.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3.42 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.46, 77% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3.42 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.49, 76% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.83 | 7.38 | 10.16 | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.77 | 1.41 | 10.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.79 | 1.17 | 3.9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland?
- Sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total in Ireland was 3.42 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.75 in 2010.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.17 in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total?
- Ireland ranks 70th out of 83 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.3.1: proportion of informal employment in total rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. This indicator conveys the share of informal employment in total employment. Employment comprises all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were either in paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work) or in self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Informal employment comprises persons who in their main or secondary jobs were (a) own-account workers, employers and members of producers' cooperatives employed in their own informal sector enterprises; (b) own-account workers engaged in the production of goods exclusively for own final use by their household (e.g. subsistence farming); (c) contributing family workers, regardless of whether they work in formal or informal sector enterprises; or (d) employees holding informal jobs, whether employed by formal sector enterprises, informal sector enterprises, or as paid domestic workers by households. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.