Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Panama

Vulnerable employment in Panama in 2025 — 37.87%. Ranked 113 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 3.62 pp.

2025 37.87% −0.05 pp vs 2024
World rank 113of 182
Period maximum 42.12%2022
Period minimum 27.27%2008

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Panama, 1991–2025253035404519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 34.26%1992: 34.11%1993: 33.85%1994: 33.68%1995: 33.51%1996: 33.42%1997: 33.26%1998: 33.65%1999: 33.98%2000: 34.41%2001: 34.89%2002: 35.32%2003: 35.71%2004: 35.38%2005: 35.07%2006: 34.73%2007: 32.39%2008: 27.27%2009: 32.99%2010: 32.68%2011: 30.75%2012: 31%2013: 31.64%2014: 31.66%2015: 32.45%2016: 34.01%2017: 34.25%2018: 36.05%2019: 38.08%2020: 38.2%2021: 37.77%2022: 42.12%2023: 36.07%2024: 37.92%2025: 37.87%
Change over the period: +3.62 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Panama 37.87%
World 42.38%
Central America computed 27.75%
High-income countries computed 7.92%
Vulnerable employment — Panama, by year Panama All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 37.87 −0.05 pp
2024 37.92 +1.86 pp
2023 36.07 −6.05 pp
2022 42.12 +4.35 pp
2021 37.77 −0.43 pp
2020 38.2 +0.12 pp
2019 38.08 +2.03 pp
2018 36.05 +1.81 pp
2017 34.25 +0.23 pp
2016 34.01 +1.56 pp
2015 32.45 +0.79 pp
2014 31.66 +0.02 pp
2013 31.64 +0.64 pp
2012 31 +0.24 pp
2011 30.75 −1.93 pp
2010 32.68 −0.31 pp
2009 32.99 +5.72 pp
2008 27.27 −5.12 pp
2007 32.39 −2.35 pp
2006 34.73 −0.34 pp
2005 35.07 −0.31 pp
2004 35.38 −0.33 pp
2003 35.71 +0.38 pp
2002 35.32 +0.43 pp
2001 34.89 +0.48 pp
2000 34.41 +0.43 pp
1999 33.98 +0.33 pp
1998 33.65 +0.38 pp
1997 33.26 −0.16 pp
1996 33.42 −0.09 pp
1995 33.51 −0.17 pp
1994 33.68 −0.17 pp
1993 33.85 −0.26 pp
1992 34.11 −0.15 pp
1991 34.26

Central America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.