Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Mercosur

Vulnerable employment in Mercosur in 2025 — 27.5%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.89 pp.

2025 27.5% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 31.52%1992
Period minimum 26.16%2012

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Mercosur, 1991–20252628303219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 31.39%1992: 31.52%1993: 31.49%1994: 31.29%1995: 31.18%1996: 30.45%1997: 30.57%1998: 30.57%1999: 30.98%2000: 30.75%2001: 30.77%2002: 31%2003: 30.61%2004: 30.24%2005: 30.07%2006: 29.16%2007: 28.54%2008: 27.09%2009: 26.92%2010: 26.58%2011: 26.28%2012: 26.16%2013: 26.34%2014: 26.33%2015: 27.24%2016: 27.65%2017: 27.85%2018: 28.18%2019: 28.63%2020: 29.4%2021: 30.48%2022: 29.02%2023: 28.21%2024: 27.7%2025: 27.5%
Change over the period: −3.89 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Mercosur 27.5%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Mercosur, by year Mercosur All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 27.5 −0.2 pp
2024 27.7 −0.51 pp
2023 28.21 −0.81 pp
2022 29.02 −1.46 pp
2021 30.48 +1.08 pp
2020 29.4 +0.77 pp
2019 28.63 +0.45 pp
2018 28.18 +0.33 pp
2017 27.85 +0.2 pp
2016 27.65 +0.41 pp
2015 27.24 +0.91 pp
2014 26.33 −0.01 pp
2013 26.34 +0.17 pp
2012 26.16 −0.12 pp
2011 26.28 −0.3 pp
2010 26.58 −0.34 pp
2009 26.92 −0.17 pp
2008 27.09 −1.44 pp
2007 28.54 −0.62 pp
2006 29.16 −0.91 pp
2005 30.07 −0.17 pp
2004 30.24 −0.37 pp
2003 30.61 −0.39 pp
2002 31 +0.23 pp
2001 30.77 +0.02 pp
2000 30.75 −0.23 pp
1999 30.98 +0.41 pp
1998 30.57 +0 pp
1997 30.57 +0.12 pp
1996 30.45 −0.73 pp
1995 31.18 −0.11 pp
1994 31.29 −0.21 pp
1993 31.49 −0.03 pp
1992 31.52 +0.13 pp
1991 31.39

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.