Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 5.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong stood at 5.8%.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong peaked at 7.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 1997.
That places Hong Kong 172nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.0% | — |
| 1992 | 4.8% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.9% | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +24.3% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 7.0% | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 6.0% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 5.8% | -5.6% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | -1.4% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 5.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 61% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 5.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 17% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 4.8% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 5.8% | 6.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More work & labour data for Hong Kong
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.06 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Hong Kong was 5.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 1997.
- How does Hong Kong rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Hong Kong ranks 172nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).