Industry jobs as a share of total employment in China
China: Industry jobs as a share of total employment was 31.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Industry jobs as a share of total employment in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, industry jobs as a share of total employment in China stood at 31.8%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industry jobs as a share of total employment in China peaked at 31.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 2002.
China ranks 13th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Industry jobs as a share of total employment in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.4% | — |
| 1992 | 21.7% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 22.4% | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 22.7% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 23.0% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 23.7% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 23.5% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 23.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 24.6% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 22.3% | -9.5% |
| 2002 | 21.4% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 21.6% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 22.5% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 23.8% | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 25.2% | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 26.8% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 27.2% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 27.8% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 28.7% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 29.5% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 30.3% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 30.1% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 29.9% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 29.3% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 29.6% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 30.0% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 30.4% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 31.1% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 31.5% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 30.9% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 31.4% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 31.6% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 31.8% | +0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21.1%, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 31.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19.9%, 1.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.8% | 21.4% | 23.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 21.4% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.9% | 28.7% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.4% | 30.9% | 31.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industry jobs as a share of total employment in China?
- Industry jobs as a share of total employment in China was 31.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest industry jobs as a share of total employment recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest industry jobs as a share of total employment recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 2002.
- How does China rank for industry jobs as a share of total employment?
- China ranks 13th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is industry jobs as a share of total employment rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Industry jobs as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the industry sector.