Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — European Union

Vulnerable employment in the European Union in 2025 — 9.91%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 4.87 pp.

2025 9.91% −0.09 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 15.27%1994
Period minimum 9.91%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — European Union, 1991–202581012141619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.78%1992: 15.19%1993: 15.23%1994: 15.27%1995: 15.18%1996: 15.09%1997: 14.97%1998: 14.85%1999: 14.6%2000: 14.35%2001: 14.23%2002: 13.71%2003: 13.63%2004: 13.5%2005: 13.32%2006: 13.09%2007: 12.76%2008: 12.39%2009: 12.42%2010: 12.58%2011: 12.43%2012: 12.35%2013: 12.21%2014: 12.13%2015: 11.82%2016: 11.5%2017: 11.25%2018: 11.01%2019: 10.85%2020: 11.02%2021: 10.59%2022: 10.35%2023: 10.16%2024: 10%2025: 9.91%
Change over the period: −4.87 pp Annual average: -0.14 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 9.91%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 9.91 −0.09 pp
2024 10 −0.15 pp
2023 10.16 −0.2 pp
2022 10.35 −0.24 pp
2021 10.59 −0.43 pp
2020 11.02 +0.17 pp
2019 10.85 −0.16 pp
2018 11.01 −0.24 pp
2017 11.25 −0.25 pp
2016 11.5 −0.32 pp
2015 11.82 −0.31 pp
2014 12.13 −0.08 pp
2013 12.21 −0.15 pp
2012 12.35 −0.08 pp
2011 12.43 −0.15 pp
2010 12.58 +0.16 pp
2009 12.42 +0.03 pp
2008 12.39 −0.37 pp
2007 12.76 −0.33 pp
2006 13.09 −0.23 pp
2005 13.32 −0.18 pp
2004 13.5 −0.13 pp
2003 13.63 −0.08 pp
2002 13.71 −0.51 pp
2001 14.23 −0.12 pp
2000 14.35 −0.25 pp
1999 14.6 −0.25 pp
1998 14.85 −0.12 pp
1997 14.97 −0.12 pp
1996 15.09 −0.09 pp
1995 15.18 −0.09 pp
1994 15.27 +0.04 pp
1993 15.23 +0.04 pp
1992 15.19 +0.41 pp
1991 14.78

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.