Iran, Islamic Republic of Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's industry employment was 34.70% in 2025, ranked 176th globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's industry employment stood at 34.70% in 2025, a decline of +0.25% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 34.88% by 2026. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 176th globally.
Iran’s share of the labour force employed in industry stood at 34.70 percent in 2025, ranking 176th globally, and reflects a gradual decline from the all‑time peak of 37.51 percent recorded in 1991. The downward trajectory accelerated after the 2010s, reaching an all‑time trough of 32.82 percent in 2019 before modestly rebounding. Over the 35‑year coverage period, Iran’s industrial employment share remains slightly below that of the Slovak Republic (34.53 percent) and Viet Nam (34.83 percent), yet above Tunisia (33.28 percent) and close to Czechia (34.89 percent). The persistent erosion of industrial employment suggests structural shifts toward services and persistent macro‑economic challenges, including sanctions and limited investment in manufacturing. If policy reforms succeed in attracting foreign direct investment and upgrading technology, the modest upward movement observed since 2019 could evolve into a more sustained recovery, potentially narrowing the gap with its regional peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 34.90% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 34.89% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 34.88% | - | - |
| 2025 | 34.70% | −0.25% | #176 |
| 2024 | 34.95% | −0.06% | #176 |
| 2023 | 35.00% | +0.05% | #179 |
| 2022 | 34.95% | +0.30% | #180 |
| 2021 | 34.65% | +0.55% | #181 |
| 2020 | 34.10% | +1.27% | #182 |
| 2019 | 32.82% | −0.16% | #178 |
| 2018 | 32.98% | −0.24% | #178 |
| 2017 | 33.22% | +0.06% | #178 |
| 2016 | 33.16% | −0.50% | #179 |
| 2015 | 33.66% | −1.22% | #181 |
| 2014 | 34.88% | −0.61% | #181 |
| 2013 | 35.49% | −0.50% | #182 |
| 2012 | 35.99% | +0.93% | #182 |
| 2011 | 35.06% | −1.59% | #181 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's industry employment was 34.70% in 2025. Ranked 176th globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's industry employment peaked at 37.51% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 32.82% in 2019.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 176th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's industry employment is projected to reach 34.88% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was 34.70%. This ranks 176th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_industry-employment,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}