Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Europe & Central Asia

Vulnerable employment in Europe & Central Asia in 2025 — 12.87%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.8 pp.

2025 12.87% −0.09 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 17.89%1997
Period minimum 12.87%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Europe & Central Asia, 1991–20251214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 16.67%1992: 17.01%1993: 17.21%1994: 17.62%1995: 17.77%1996: 17.77%1997: 17.89%1998: 17.82%1999: 17.53%2000: 17.24%2001: 17.21%2002: 16.68%2003: 16.61%2004: 16.15%2005: 15.82%2006: 15.52%2007: 15.16%2008: 14.88%2009: 15.09%2010: 15.2%2011: 15.23%2012: 15.13%2013: 15.07%2014: 15.02%2015: 14.77%2016: 14.65%2017: 14.36%2018: 14.18%2019: 14.02%2020: 13.99%2021: 13.65%2022: 13.26%2023: 13.04%2024: 12.96%2025: 12.87%
Change over the period: −3.8 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Europe & Central Asia

Europe & Central Asia 12.87%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Europe & Central Asia, by year Europe & Central Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.87 −0.09 pp
2024 12.96 −0.08 pp
2023 13.04 −0.22 pp
2022 13.26 −0.4 pp
2021 13.65 −0.33 pp
2020 13.99 −0.04 pp
2019 14.02 −0.16 pp
2018 14.18 −0.18 pp
2017 14.36 −0.29 pp
2016 14.65 −0.12 pp
2015 14.77 −0.25 pp
2014 15.02 −0.05 pp
2013 15.07 −0.05 pp
2012 15.13 −0.11 pp
2011 15.23 +0.03 pp
2010 15.2 +0.12 pp
2009 15.09 +0.2 pp
2008 14.88 −0.28 pp
2007 15.16 −0.36 pp
2006 15.52 −0.3 pp
2005 15.82 −0.33 pp
2004 16.15 −0.46 pp
2003 16.61 −0.07 pp
2002 16.68 −0.53 pp
2001 17.21 −0.02 pp
2000 17.24 −0.29 pp
1999 17.53 −0.29 pp
1998 17.82 −0.07 pp
1997 17.89 +0.12 pp
1996 17.77 −0 pp
1995 17.77 +0.14 pp
1994 17.62 +0.41 pp
1993 17.21 +0.2 pp
1992 17.01 +0.34 pp
1991 16.67

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

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