Industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany
Germany: Industry jobs as a share of total employment was 26.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany is 26.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany peaked at 38.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 26.0%, in 2025.
That places Germany 37th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 38.4% | — |
| 1992 | 38.0% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 37.4% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 36.5% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 36.0% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 35.3% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 34.7% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 34.4% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 33.8% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 33.5% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 32.8% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 32.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 31.4% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 31.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 29.8% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 29.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 30.4% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 29.3% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 28.8% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 28.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 27.7% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 28.2% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 28.1% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 27.6% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 27.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 27.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 27.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 27.1% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 27.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 26.8% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 26.4% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 26.3% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 26.0% | -1.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 26.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 19.9%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 26.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.3%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.1% | 33.8% | 38.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 31.0% | 28.8% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.7% | 27.1% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.7% | 26.0% | 27.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany?
- Industry jobs as a share of total employment in Germany was 26.0% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 38.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest industry jobs as a share of total employment recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.0% in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for industry jobs as a share of total employment?
- Germany ranks 37th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is industry jobs as a share of total employment rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the industry sector.