Global employment figures 2021, by broad sector

In 2021 there were estimated to be approximately 866.3 million people employed worldwide in agriculture, compared with 1.64 billion people in services, and 753 million people in industry.

Number of employees worldwide from 1991 to 2021, by broad sector (in millions)

Characteristic	Agriculture	Industry	Services
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Release date

November 2021

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

1991 to 2021

Age group

15 years and older

Supplementary notes

The source adds the following information regarding methodology: "The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). The series is part of the ILO modelled estimates and is harmonized to account for differences in national data and scope of coverage, collection and tabulation methodologies as well as for other country-specific factors."

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