Live Data · 184 countries
Labor Markets
Compare employment, wages, workforce participation, productivity and labor-market pressure across countries.
Live Data — World Bank · ILO methodology
184 countries
Lowest Unemployment Rate184 countries
| # | Country | % | Yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar | 0.1% | 2025 |
| 2 | Cambodia | 0.3% | 2025 |
| 3 | Niger | 0.4% | 2025 |
| 4 | Burundi | 0.9% | 2025 |
| 5 | Thailand | 1.0% | 2025 |
| 6 | Chad | 1.1% | 2025 |
| 7 | Andorra | 1.1% | 2025 |
| 8 | Bahrain | 1.1% | 2025 |
| 9 | Lao PDR | 1.2% | 2025 |
| 10 | Solomon Islands | 1.4% | 2025 |
| 11 | Tanzania | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 12 | Benin | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 13 | Timor-Leste | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 14 | Cuba | 1.7% | 2025 |
| 15 | Togo | 2.0% | 2025 |
| 16 | Tonga | 2.0% | 2025 |
| 17 | United Arab Emirates | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 18 | Kuwait | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 19 | Vietnam | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 20 | Russia | 2.2% | 2025 |
Unemployment rate (ILO). Lower = stronger labor market. Most recent annual value.
Countries
30
Global unemployment
5.6%
Employment growth
+1.1%
Wage growth
+4.5%
Labor shortages
United States · Germany · Australia · Japan · Switzerland
Rising unemployment
South Africa · Spain · France
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-20
Global Labor Snapshot
Global Unemployment
■5.6%
Stable but uneven across regions.
Drivers: South Africa, Spain, Colombia
Confidence: High2026-06-20
Employment Growth
▲+1.1% y/y
Services-led job creation continues.
Drivers: India, Vietnam, Indonesia
Confidence: Medium2026-06-20
Labor-Force Participation
■60.8%
Female participation rising in EMs.
Drivers: United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Confidence: Medium2026-06-19
Wage Growth
▲+4.5%
Above pre-pandemic average; uneven real terms.
Drivers: Turkey, Russia, Mexico
Confidence: Medium2026-06-19
Productivity Growth
▲+1.4%
Modest acceleration with AI adoption.
Drivers: India, China, Vietnam
Confidence: Medium2026-06-18
Youth Unemployment
■13.2%
Persistent in southern Europe, ZA, LatAm.
Drivers: South Africa, Spain, Italy
Confidence: Medium2026-06-18
Skills Shortage
▲Elevated
Severe in technology, healthcare, construction.
Drivers: United States, Germany, Japan
Confidence: High2026-06-17
Informal Employment
▼~35% (global)
Formalization slow but progressing in EMs.
Drivers: Nigeria, India, Indonesia
Confidence: Medium2026-06-17
Global Labor Map
Mock view — color is supplemented by labels and values.
UnemploymentEmployment GrowthLabor ParticipationWage GrowthProductivityYouth UnemploymentSkills ShortageInformal Employment
🇺🇸United States
U 4.1% · LFP 63%
W +4.0% · Prod +1.6%
Tight
🇮🇳India
U 7.6% · LFP 53%
W +6.5% · Prod +4.2%
Healthy
🇧🇷Brazil
U 8.4% · LFP 62%
W +5.2% · Prod +0.9%
Softening
🇨🇳China
U 5.2% · LFP 68%
W +5.0% · Prod +4.0%
Softening
🇯🇵Japan
U 2.5% · LFP 63%
W +2.6% · Prod +0.7%
Tight
🇩🇪Germany
U 3.4% · LFP 62%
W +3.5% · Prod +0.6%
Tight
🇬🇧United Kingdom
U 4.4% · LFP 63%
W +4.6% · Prod +0.5%
Healthy
🇫🇷France
U 7.3% · LFP 56%
W +2.7% · Prod +0.5%
Healthy
🇮🇹Italy
U 7.7% · LFP 49%
W +2.4% · Prod +0.2%
Softening
🇪🇸Spain
U 11.5% · LFP 59%
W +3.0% · Prod +0.6%
Softening
🇨🇦Canada
U 5.6% · LFP 65%
W +4.4% · Prod +0.3%
Healthy
🇲🇽Mexico
U 3.2% · LFP 60%
W +7.0% · Prod +1.0%
Tight
🇦🇷Argentina
U 7.0% · LFP 48%
W +110.0% · Prod +0.0%
Softening
🇨🇱Chile
U 8.7% · LFP 61%
W +5.5% · Prod +1.0%
Softening
🇨🇴Colombia
U 10.2% · LFP 63%
W +9.0% · Prod +1.2%
Softening
Mock Data · color alone is not used to convey information.
Labor Directory
30 of 30
Southeast Asia·Emerging
Thailand
TightLight
Unemployment
1.1%
Empl. growth
+0.6%
Participation
68.0%
Youth unempl.
5.5%
Wage growth
+3.0%
Productivity
+1.4%
Informal
51%
Hours / wk
43.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-11
Southeast Asia·Emerging
Vietnam
TightLight
Unemployment
2.3%
Empl. growth
+1.5%
Participation
73.0%
Youth unempl.
7.6%
Wage growth
+7.0%
Productivity
+3.5%
Informal
65%
Hours / wk
47.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-11
Europe·Developed
Switzerland
TightLight
Unemployment
2.4%
Empl. growth
+1.1%
Participation
68.0%
Youth unempl.
8.0%
Wage growth
+2.5%
Productivity
+1.0%
Informal
4%
Hours / wk
34.5
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-09
East Asia·Developed
Japan
TightPartial
Unemployment
2.5%
Empl. growth
+0.2%
Participation
62.5%
Youth unempl.
4.0%
Wage growth
+2.6%
Productivity
+0.7%
Informal
12%
Hours / wk
41.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-17
Middle East·Emerging
United Arab Emirates
TightLight
Unemployment
2.7%
Empl. growth
+2.8%
Participation
81.0%
Youth unempl.
6.5%
Wage growth
+4.0%
Productivity
+2.4%
Informal
8%
Hours / wk
48.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-12
Europe·Emerging
Poland
TightLight
Unemployment
2.8%
Empl. growth
+0.8%
Participation
58.0%
Youth unempl.
11.5%
Wage growth
+8.5%
Productivity
+2.0%
Informal
11%
Hours / wk
40.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-09
East Asia·Developed
South Korea
TightPartial
Unemployment
2.9%
Empl. growth
+0.5%
Participation
64.0%
Youth unempl.
6.5%
Wage growth
+3.5%
Productivity
+1.5%
Informal
18%
Hours / wk
38.7
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-10
Europe·Emerging
Russia
TightLight
Unemployment
2.9%
Empl. growth
+0.2%
Participation
62.0%
Youth unempl.
8.5%
Wage growth
+12.0%
Productivity
+1.0%
Informal
20%
Hours / wk
39.5
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-10
North America·Emerging
Mexico
TightLight
Unemployment
3.2%
Empl. growth
+2.0%
Participation
60.3%
Youth unempl.
6.8%
Wage growth
+7.0%
Productivity
+1.0%
Informal
55%
Hours / wk
44.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-14
Europe·Developed
Germany
TightPartial
Unemployment
3.4%
Empl. growth
+0.4%
Participation
61.8%
Youth unempl.
5.7%
Wage growth
+3.5%
Productivity
+0.6%
Informal
6%
Hours / wk
34.2
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-16
North America·Developed
United States
TightFull
Unemployment
4.1%
Empl. growth
+1.3%
Participation
62.7%
Youth unempl.
8.2%
Wage growth
+4.0%
Productivity
+1.6%
Informal
9%
Hours / wk
38.5
Skills gap
High
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-20
Oceania·Developed
Australia
TightPartial
Unemployment
4.1%
Empl. growth
+2.4%
Participation
67.0%
Youth unempl.
9.5%
Wage growth
+4.0%
Productivity
+0.8%
Informal
9%
Hours / wk
32.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-10
Africa·Emerging
Nigeria
WeakLight
Unemployment
4.2%
Empl. growth
+2.3%
Participation
79.0%
Youth unempl.
8.5%
Wage growth
+15.0%
Productivity
+0.8%
Informal
92%
Hours / wk
42.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-12
Middle East·Emerging
Saudi Arabia
HealthyLight
Unemployment
4.3%
Empl. growth
+1.8%
Participation
62.0%
Youth unempl.
16.0%
Wage growth
+3.5%
Productivity
+1.8%
Informal
15%
Hours / wk
45.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-12
Europe·Developed
United Kingdom
HealthyPartial
Unemployment
4.4%
Empl. growth
+0.8%
Participation
63.1%
Youth unempl.
13.5%
Wage growth
+4.6%
Productivity
+0.5%
Informal
10%
Hours / wk
36.5
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-16
Southeast Asia·Emerging
Indonesia
HealthyLight
Unemployment
5.0%
Empl. growth
+1.9%
Participation
67.0%
Youth unempl.
13.5%
Wage growth
+6.5%
Productivity
+2.5%
Informal
60%
Hours / wk
41.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-11
East Asia·Emerging
China
SofteningPartial
Unemployment
5.2%
Empl. growth
+0.4%
Participation
67.8%
Youth unempl.
14.6%
Wage growth
+5.0%
Productivity
+4.0%
Informal
28%
Hours / wk
46.1
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-17
North America·Developed
Canada
HealthyPartial
Unemployment
5.6%
Empl. growth
+1.8%
Participation
65.4%
Youth unempl.
11.5%
Wage growth
+4.4%
Productivity
+0.3%
Informal
8%
Hours / wk
36.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-14
South America·Emerging
Argentina
SofteningLight
Unemployment
7.0%
Empl. growth
+0.5%
Participation
47.5%
Youth unempl.
18.5%
Wage growth
+110.0%
Productivity
+0.0%
Informal
36%
Hours / wk
39.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-13
Africa·Emerging
Egypt
WeakLight
Unemployment
7.2%
Empl. growth
+1.0%
Participation
42.0%
Youth unempl.
17.0%
Wage growth
+18.0%
Productivity
+1.0%
Informal
62%
Hours / wk
47.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-12
Europe·Developed
France
HealthyPartial
Unemployment
7.3%
Empl. growth
+0.3%
Participation
56.0%
Youth unempl.
18.0%
Wage growth
+2.7%
Productivity
+0.5%
Informal
8%
Hours / wk
35.8
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-16
South Asia·Emerging
India
HealthyFull
Unemployment
7.6%
Empl. growth
+2.4%
Participation
53.4%
Youth unempl.
17.5%
Wage growth
+6.5%
Productivity
+4.2%
Informal
84%
Hours / wk
47.8
Skills gap
High
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-19
Europe·Developed
Italy
SofteningLight
Unemployment
7.7%
Empl. growth
+0.5%
Participation
49.4%
Youth unempl.
21.0%
Wage growth
+2.4%
Productivity
+0.2%
Informal
14%
Hours / wk
36.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-15
South America·Emerging
Brazil
SofteningFull
Unemployment
8.4%
Empl. growth
+1.1%
Participation
61.5%
Youth unempl.
18.3%
Wage growth
+5.2%
Productivity
+0.9%
Informal
39%
Hours / wk
39.4
Skills gap
Moderate
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-18
Europe·Developed
Sweden
SofteningLight
Unemployment
8.5%
Empl. growth
+0.5%
Participation
65.0%
Youth unempl.
22.0%
Wage growth
+3.4%
Productivity
+0.7%
Informal
5%
Hours / wk
36.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-09
South America·Emerging
Chile
SofteningLight
Unemployment
8.7%
Empl. growth
+0.9%
Participation
61.0%
Youth unempl.
18.7%
Wage growth
+5.5%
Productivity
+1.0%
Informal
27%
Hours / wk
41.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-13
Middle East·Emerging
Turkey
SofteningLight
Unemployment
9.3%
Empl. growth
+1.4%
Participation
54.0%
Youth unempl.
18.0%
Wage growth
+65.0%
Productivity
+1.5%
Informal
31%
Hours / wk
45.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-11
South America·Emerging
Colombia
SofteningLight
Unemployment
10.2%
Empl. growth
+1.4%
Participation
63.0%
Youth unempl.
17.0%
Wage growth
+9.0%
Productivity
+1.2%
Informal
58%
Hours / wk
43.0
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-13
Europe·Developed
Spain
SofteningLight
Unemployment
11.5%
Empl. growth
+1.0%
Participation
58.7%
Youth unempl.
26.0%
Wage growth
+3.0%
Productivity
+0.6%
Informal
13%
Hours / wk
36.4
Skills gap
Moderate
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-15
Africa·Emerging
South Africa
DistressedLight
Unemployment
32.1%
Empl. growth
+0.6%
Participation
59.5%
Youth unempl.
60.5%
Wage growth
+5.5%
Productivity
+0.4%
Informal
33%
Hours / wk
42.0
Skills gap
High
Snapshot only
Mock Data · updated 2026-06-12
Labor-Market Movers
Strongest employment growth
- United Arab Emirates+2.8%Diversification · sectors: Tourism, Finance
- India+2.4%Services & construction · sectors: IT, Construction
- Australia+2.4%Migration intake · sectors: Healthcare, Construction
Rising unemployment
- South Africa32.1%Energy & skills gap · sectors: Mining, Manufacturing
- Spain11.5%Construction slowdown · sectors: Construction, Tourism
- France7.3%Industrial softness · sectors: Manufacturing
Highest wage growth
- Argentina+110%Inflation indexation · sectors: All
- Turkey+65%Minimum-wage hike · sectors: All
- Egypt+18%Inflation pass-through · sectors: Public
Highest productivity growth
- India+4.2%Digital adoption · sectors: IT, Manufacturing
- China+4.0%Automation · sectors: Manufacturing
- Vietnam+3.5%FDI inflows · sectors: Electronics
Tightest labor markets
- JapanU 2.5%Aging workforce · sectors: All
- VietnamU 2.3%Manufacturing demand · sectors: Electronics
- SwitzerlandU 2.4%Skills concentration · sectors: Finance, Pharma
Largest skills shortages
- United StatesHighSTEM & healthcare · sectors: Tech, Healthcare
- GermanyHighTrades & engineering · sectors: Manufacturing
- AustraliaHighConstruction & healthcare · sectors: Construction
Highest youth unemployment
- South Africa60.5%Structural · sectors: All
- Spain26.0%Insider/outsider · sectors: Tourism
- Sweden22.0%Entry barriers · sectors: Services
Highest informal employment
- Nigeria92%Informal economy · sectors: Agriculture
- India84%Small enterprises · sectors: Agriculture, Construction
- Vietnam65%Self-employment · sectors: Agriculture
Employment by Sector
Mock global breakdown.
| Sector | Empl. share | Empl. growth | Wage growth | Productivity | Skills | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 26% | -0.5% | +3.0% | +1.5% | Low | Climate exposure |
| Manufacturing | 14% | +0.4% | +4.0% | +2.0% | Moderate | Automation displacement |
| Construction | 7% | +1.2% | +5.5% | +0.6% | High | Cyclical demand |
| Technology | 4% | +3.5% | +6.5% | +4.0% | High | AI restructuring |
| Financial Services | 5% | +0.8% | +5.0% | +2.0% | Moderate | Automation |
| Healthcare | 7% | +2.8% | +4.6% | +0.9% | High | Worker burnout |
| Education | 5% | +0.5% | +3.0% | +0.4% | Moderate | Budget pressure |
| Government | 7% | +0.6% | +2.8% | +0.3% | Moderate | Fiscal consolidation |
| Retail | 9% | +0.4% | +3.5% | +0.7% | Low | E-commerce shift |
| Transportation | 6% | +1.5% | +4.2% | +1.0% | Moderate | Fuel volatility |
| Tourism | 4% | +2.4% | +3.6% | +0.9% | Moderate | Demand swings |
| Energy | 2% | +1.0% | +5.0% | +1.6% | Moderate | Transition risk |
| Mining | 1% | +0.5% | +5.5% | +1.2% | Moderate | Commodity cycles |
| Professional Services | 3% | +2.2% | +5.0% | +2.2% | High | AI augmentation |
12-Month Labor Timeline
| Month | Event | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | US nonfarm payrolls release | Release |
| Aug 2026 | Eurozone unemployment update | Release |
| Sep 2026 | Germany IG Metall wage round | Wage |
| Oct 2026 | UK budget — minimum wage | Policy |
| Nov 2026 | India PLFS quarterly | Release |
| Dec 2026 | Japan shunto spring wage talks open | Wage |
| Jan 2027 | Brazil CAGED hiring data | Release |
| Feb 2027 | China migrant worker survey | Release |
| Mar 2027 | Korea pension reform vote | Policy |
| Apr 2027 | EU skills initiative update | Skills |
| May 2027 | ILO global employment outlook | Release |
| Jun 2027 | OECD employment outlook | Release |