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Employment in services — all countries

Employment in services — Lower-middle-income countries

Employment in services in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 39%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 11.6 pp.

2025 39% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 39.5%2019
Period minimum 27.4%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in services — Lower-middle-income countries, 1991–20252530354019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 27.4%1992: 27.6%1993: 28%1994: 28.2%1995: 28.6%1996: 29%1997: 29.4%1998: 29.7%1999: 29.8%2000: 29.9%2001: 30.3%2002: 30.8%2003: 31.3%2004: 31.7%2005: 32.2%2006: 32.5%2007: 32.8%2008: 33%2009: 33.4%2010: 33.6%2011: 34.3%2012: 34.9%2013: 35.5%2014: 36.1%2015: 36.9%2016: 37.4%2017: 38.2%2018: 39%2019: 39.5%2020: 38.1%2021: 38.1%2022: 37.8%2023: 38.2%2024: 38.7%2025: 39%
Change over the period: +11.6 pp Annual average: 0.34 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lower-middle-income countries

Lower-middle-income countries 39%
World 50.6%
Employment in services — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 39 +0.3 pp
2024 38.7 +0.5 pp
2023 38.2 +0.4 pp
2022 37.8 −0.3 pp
2021 38.1 +0.1 pp
2020 38.1 −1.5 pp
2019 39.5 +0.5 pp
2018 39 +0.8 pp
2017 38.2 +0.7 pp
2016 37.4 +0.6 pp
2015 36.9 +0.8 pp
2014 36.1 +0.6 pp
2013 35.5 +0.6 pp
2012 34.9 +0.6 pp
2011 34.3 +0.6 pp
2010 33.6 +0.2 pp
2009 33.4 +0.4 pp
2008 33 +0.2 pp
2007 32.8 +0.3 pp
2006 32.5 +0.3 pp
2005 32.2 +0.5 pp
2004 31.7 +0.4 pp
2003 31.3 +0.5 pp
2002 30.8 +0.5 pp
2001 30.3 +0.4 pp
2000 29.9 +0.1 pp
1999 29.8 +0.1 pp
1998 29.7 +0.2 pp
1997 29.4 +0.5 pp
1996 29 +0.4 pp
1995 28.6 +0.4 pp
1994 28.2 +0.2 pp
1993 28 +0.4 pp
1992 27.6 +0.2 pp
1991 27.4 —

About the indicator

The share of total employment in the service sector: trade, transport, communications, finance, business services, public administration, education, health care. In high-income countries it exceeds 70–80%; the rise of this share is the main line of structural change in labor markets over the past half century.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for lower-middle-income countries

Economy Services share of GDP

The contribution of trade, transport, finance, IT and public administration to value added.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Employment in industry

The share of workers employed in mining, manufacturing, utilities and construction.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Youth unemployment

The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.

Lower-middle-income countries by year
All indicators for lower-middle-income countries