Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — OPEC

Vulnerable employment in OPEC in 2025 — 47.13%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 8.21 pp.

2025 47.13% −0.21 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 55.34%1991
Period minimum 46.92%2016

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — OPEC, 1991–20254547.55052.55557.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 55.34%1992: 55.07%1993: 55.04%1994: 55.06%1995: 54.89%1996: 54.83%1997: 54.4%1998: 54.62%1999: 54.47%2000: 54.14%2001: 53.63%2002: 53.2%2003: 52.68%2004: 51.89%2005: 51.35%2006: 50.87%2007: 50.33%2008: 49.85%2009: 49.47%2010: 49.1%2011: 48.51%2012: 47.99%2013: 47.56%2014: 47.24%2015: 46.97%2016: 46.92%2017: 47.11%2018: 47.34%2019: 47.59%2020: 48.18%2021: 47.95%2022: 47.64%2023: 47.52%2024: 47.33%2025: 47.13%
Change over the period: −8.21 pp Annual average: -0.24 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

OPEC 47.13%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — OPEC, by year OPEC All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 47.13 −0.21 pp
2024 47.33 −0.19 pp
2023 47.52 −0.11 pp
2022 47.64 −0.32 pp
2021 47.95 −0.22 pp
2020 48.18 +0.58 pp
2019 47.59 +0.25 pp
2018 47.34 +0.23 pp
2017 47.11 +0.19 pp
2016 46.92 −0.05 pp
2015 46.97 −0.27 pp
2014 47.24 −0.32 pp
2013 47.56 −0.43 pp
2012 47.99 −0.52 pp
2011 48.51 −0.59 pp
2010 49.1 −0.37 pp
2009 49.47 −0.38 pp
2008 49.85 −0.48 pp
2007 50.33 −0.54 pp
2006 50.87 −0.48 pp
2005 51.35 −0.54 pp
2004 51.89 −0.79 pp
2003 52.68 −0.52 pp
2002 53.2 −0.44 pp
2001 53.63 −0.51 pp
2000 54.14 −0.33 pp
1999 54.47 −0.15 pp
1998 54.62 +0.22 pp
1997 54.4 −0.43 pp
1996 54.83 −0.06 pp
1995 54.89 −0.17 pp
1994 55.06 +0.02 pp
1993 55.04 −0.03 pp
1992 55.07 −0.26 pp
1991 55.34

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.