Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Latin America & Caribbean

Vulnerable employment in Latin America & Caribbean in 2025 — 31.48%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.42 pp.

2025 31.48% −0.12 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 35.1%1993
Period minimum 31.06%2014

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Latin America & Caribbean, 1991–20253032343619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 34.9%1992: 34.98%1993: 35.1%1994: 34.7%1995: 34.44%1996: 33.9%1997: 33.97%1998: 33.88%1999: 34.06%2000: 33.59%2001: 33.52%2002: 33.66%2003: 33.53%2004: 33.21%2005: 32.88%2006: 32.25%2007: 31.71%2008: 31.28%2009: 31.69%2010: 31.49%2011: 31.44%2012: 31.27%2013: 31.23%2014: 31.06%2015: 31.51%2016: 31.72%2017: 32.1%2018: 32.35%2019: 32.42%2020: 33.18%2021: 33.75%2022: 32.87%2023: 32.06%2024: 31.6%2025: 31.48%
Change over the period: −3.42 pp Annual average: -0.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean 31.48%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 31.48 −0.12 pp
2024 31.6 −0.46 pp
2023 32.06 −0.82 pp
2022 32.87 −0.88 pp
2021 33.75 +0.57 pp
2020 33.18 +0.76 pp
2019 32.42 +0.07 pp
2018 32.35 +0.25 pp
2017 32.1 +0.38 pp
2016 31.72 +0.21 pp
2015 31.51 +0.45 pp
2014 31.06 −0.17 pp
2013 31.23 −0.04 pp
2012 31.27 −0.17 pp
2011 31.44 −0.05 pp
2010 31.49 −0.2 pp
2009 31.69 +0.41 pp
2008 31.28 −0.43 pp
2007 31.71 −0.54 pp
2006 32.25 −0.63 pp
2005 32.88 −0.33 pp
2004 33.21 −0.32 pp
2003 33.53 −0.13 pp
2002 33.66 +0.14 pp
2001 33.52 −0.07 pp
2000 33.59 −0.48 pp
1999 34.06 +0.19 pp
1998 33.88 −0.09 pp
1997 33.97 +0.07 pp
1996 33.9 −0.54 pp
1995 34.44 −0.27 pp
1994 34.7 −0.4 pp
1993 35.1 +0.12 pp
1992 34.98 +0.08 pp
1991 34.9

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.