JobLadda Pulse · Data briefing

Where the world works: global employment distribution in 2022

The services sector accounts for the largest share of global employment, comprising approximately 50 percent of jobs. Agriculture sits at around 26 percent, while industry contributes about 24 percent — making it the smallest share globally.

Global employment by sector (2022)

Source: World Development Indicators (employment by sector, % of total employment), 2022. Note: recent statistics are limited by reporting time-lag.

Key takeaways

01. The industry sector accounted for the smallest portion of global employment in 2022.
02. Around 50 percent of the worldwide workforce is involved in the service sector.
03. On a global scale, the gap between agriculture and industry is small — both sit between 24 and 27 percent.
04. Services dominate everywhere economies modernise, while agriculture remains the largest employer in many low-income countries.

Sources

· World Development Indicators, 2022 employment-by-sector series.
· International Labour Organization (ILO) modelled estimates.
· Note: figures are share of total employment. Recent statistics may lag because of reporting cycles.

Looking for a service-sector job?

Half the world's jobs are in services. JobLadda helps you build a CV that ranks for service roles in tech, finance, support and beyond.

Build My CV