Share of workers in informal employment in Ireland
Ireland: Share of workers in informal employment was 1.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Ireland, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment in Ireland is 1.9%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 48.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Ireland peaked at 5.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2021.
That places Ireland 72nd out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5.0% | — |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -16.5% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | +59.8% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -49.7% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -14.7% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | +35.3% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -43.5% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -12.9% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -19.6% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +45.4% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | -5.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 79% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 67% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.5% | 5.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 1.5% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 5 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in Ireland?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Ireland was 1.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2021.
- How does Ireland rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Ireland ranks 72nd out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed people 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.