Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Eastern Asia

Vulnerable employment in Eastern Asia in 2025 — 31.19%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 18.67 pp.

2025 31.19% −0.37 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 49.86%1991
Period minimum 31.19%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Eastern Asia, 1991–2025303540455019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 49.86%1992: 49.26%1993: 48.61%1994: 47.96%1995: 47.32%1996: 46.68%1997: 46.09%1998: 45.55%1999: 45.04%2000: 44.5%2001: 43.93%2002: 43.36%2003: 42.76%2004: 42.12%2005: 41.45%2006: 40.7%2007: 39.93%2008: 39.2%2009: 38.49%2010: 37.79%2011: 37.16%2012: 36.57%2013: 35.99%2014: 35.45%2015: 34.94%2016: 34.42%2017: 33.94%2018: 33.44%2019: 32.99%2020: 33.05%2021: 32.86%2022: 32.38%2023: 31.99%2024: 31.56%2025: 31.19%
Change over the period: −18.67 pp Annual average: -0.55 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Eastern Asia 31.19%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Eastern Asia, by year Eastern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 31.19 −0.37 pp
2024 31.56 −0.43 pp
2023 31.99 −0.39 pp
2022 32.38 −0.49 pp
2021 32.86 −0.19 pp
2020 33.05 +0.06 pp
2019 32.99 −0.46 pp
2018 33.44 −0.5 pp
2017 33.94 −0.48 pp
2016 34.42 −0.52 pp
2015 34.94 −0.51 pp
2014 35.45 −0.54 pp
2013 35.99 −0.58 pp
2012 36.57 −0.58 pp
2011 37.16 −0.63 pp
2010 37.79 −0.7 pp
2009 38.49 −0.71 pp
2008 39.2 −0.73 pp
2007 39.93 −0.77 pp
2006 40.7 −0.75 pp
2005 41.45 −0.67 pp
2004 42.12 −0.64 pp
2003 42.76 −0.61 pp
2002 43.36 −0.57 pp
2001 43.93 −0.56 pp
2000 44.5 −0.54 pp
1999 45.04 −0.51 pp
1998 45.55 −0.55 pp
1997 46.09 −0.58 pp
1996 46.68 −0.64 pp
1995 47.32 −0.64 pp
1994 47.96 −0.65 pp
1993 48.61 −0.65 pp
1992 49.26 −0.6 pp
1991 49.86

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.