Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy
Italy: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 14.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy, 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 Italy stood at 14.3%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy peaked at 20.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 2025.
That places Italy 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.2% | — |
| 1992 | 20.8% | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 20.4% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 20.2% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 20.7% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 20.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 20.3% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 20.2% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 19.8% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 19.7% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 19.1% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 19.0% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 19.4% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 18.4% | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 18.0% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 17.3% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 17.2% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 17.2% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 15.8% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 15.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 14.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 14.3% | -0.9% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 14.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Italy's 14.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.4% | 19.8% | 20.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.6% | 17.2% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.8% | 15.8% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 14.3% | 15.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 129 Poland 15.0% compare
- 130 Mauritius 14.9% compare
- 131 French Polynesia 14.8% compare
- 133 Montenegro 14.3% compare
- 134 New Caledonia 14.2% compare
- 135 Czechia 13.5% compare
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Italy was 14.3% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 2025.
- How does Italy rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Italy ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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).