Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — OECD

Vulnerable employment in the OECD in 2025 — 11.98%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 4.01 pp.

2025 11.98% −0.04 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 16.03%1992
Period minimum 11.98%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — OECD, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 15.99%1992: 16.03%1993: 15.96%1994: 15.85%1995: 15.6%1996: 15.39%1997: 15.41%1998: 15.01%1999: 14.73%2000: 14.28%2001: 14.28%2002: 14.06%2003: 14.06%2004: 13.88%2005: 13.63%2006: 13.36%2007: 13.09%2008: 13.02%2009: 13.37%2010: 13.35%2011: 13.35%2012: 13.29%2013: 13.19%2014: 13.09%2015: 12.96%2016: 12.8%2017: 12.69%2018: 12.59%2019: 12.44%2020: 12.49%2021: 12.57%2022: 12.32%2023: 12.15%2024: 12.02%2025: 11.98%
Change over the period: −4.01 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

OECD 11.98%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.98 −0.04 pp
2024 12.02 −0.13 pp
2023 12.15 −0.17 pp
2022 12.32 −0.25 pp
2021 12.57 +0.09 pp
2020 12.49 +0.05 pp
2019 12.44 −0.15 pp
2018 12.59 −0.1 pp
2017 12.69 −0.1 pp
2016 12.8 −0.16 pp
2015 12.96 −0.14 pp
2014 13.09 −0.09 pp
2013 13.19 −0.1 pp
2012 13.29 −0.07 pp
2011 13.35 +0 pp
2010 13.35 −0.02 pp
2009 13.37 +0.35 pp
2008 13.02 −0.07 pp
2007 13.09 −0.27 pp
2006 13.36 −0.27 pp
2005 13.63 −0.26 pp
2004 13.88 −0.18 pp
2003 14.06 +0.01 pp
2002 14.06 −0.22 pp
2001 14.28 −0 pp
2000 14.28 −0.45 pp
1999 14.73 −0.28 pp
1998 15.01 −0.4 pp
1997 15.41 +0.02 pp
1996 15.39 −0.21 pp
1995 15.6 −0.25 pp
1994 15.85 −0.11 pp
1993 15.96 −0.07 pp
1992 16.03 +0.03 pp
1991 15.99

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.