Share of workers in the public sector 2023

Key workers are largely employed in the private sector, with only 14.6 percent holding public sector employment on average. However, the rate of public sector employment differs greatly depending on the country income group. Fewer people are employed in the public sector in low and lower-middle income countries, given smaller tax revenues as a proportion of the national income and the significance of agricultural employment.

Share of workers in public sector employment in 2023, by country income group

Characteristic	Key workers	Key workers excluding food systems
Average	14.6%	19.6%
Low income	3.2%	8%
Lower-middle income	10.2%	17%
Upper-middle income	18.4%	23.3%
High income	24.7%	26.5%

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Release date

March 2023

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2023

Special properties

ILO Estimates

Supplementary notes

Key workers are defined as belonging to the following sectors: agriculture, forestry, and fishing; mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motorcycles and motor vehicles; transportation and storage; information and communication; financial and insurance activities; professional, scientific, and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; public administration, defense, and compulsory social security; and human health and social work activities.

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