Guatemala Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Guatemala's services employment was 48.23% in 2025, ranked 49th globally. This represents a 0.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Guatemala's services employment stood at 48.23% in 2025, a rise of +0.21% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 47.54% by 2026. Guatemala ranked 49th globally.
Guatemala’s share of employment in services rose from 41.77 in 1991 to a peak of 50.85 in 2022, before slipping slightly to 48.23 in 2025, placing the country 49th globally. The all‑time trough of 41.75 in 2000 marked the low point of a three‑decade expansion that has been driven by growth in tourism, retail and financial intermediation. Compared with peers of similar rank, Guatemala’s 2025 figure is marginally below Morocco’s 48.27 and Thailand’s 49.21, yet ahead of Senegal’s 47.92 and Sri Lanka’s 47.84, suggesting a competitive position within the middle tier of service‑oriented labor markets. The modest decline from the 2022 peak reflects a slowdown in private‑sector hiring and a modest shift of workers back to agriculture amid lower commodity prices. Continued investment in digital infrastructure and vocational training could revive the upward trajectory, encouraging a return to the higher employment levels observed during the early 2020s.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 46.77% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 47.16% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 47.54% | - | - |
| 2025 | 48.23% | +0.21% | #49 |
| 2024 | 48.02% | +0.34% | #49 |
| 2023 | 47.68% | −3.17% | #51 |
| 2022 | 50.85% | +2.09% | #68 |
| 2021 | 48.76% | −0.29% | #59 |
| 2020 | 49.05% | −0.81% | #59 |
| 2019 | 49.86% | +1.88% | #62 |
| 2018 | 47.98% | −1.23% | #58 |
| 2017 | 49.22% | −0.39% | #64 |
| 2016 | 49.61% | +0.38% | #66 |
| 2015 | 49.23% | +0.22% | #65 |
| 2014 | 49.01% | +0.32% | #67 |
| 2013 | 48.68% | +0.31% | #66 |
| 2012 | 48.38% | +5.69% | #68 |
| 2011 | 42.69% | −1.80% | #52 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guatemala's services employment was 48.23% in 2025. Ranked 49th globally. This represents a 0.4% increase from the previous year.
Guatemala's services employment peaked at 50.85% in 2022.
The lowest services employment in Guatemala was 41.75% in 2000.
Guatemala ranks 49th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guatemala's services employment is projected to reach 47.54% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Guatemala in 2025 was 48.23%. This ranks 49th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_services-employment,
title = {Guatemala Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}