Maldives Industry Employment

Maldives’ share of the labour force employed in industry has contracted sharply over the past three and a half decades, falling from an all‑time peak of 26.98 percent in 1991 to a trough of 16.31 percent in 2009 before edging slightly higher to 16.93 percent in 2025, placing the nation 66th globally. The decline mirrors a structural shift toward services, particularly tourism, which now dominates the economy and absorbs a growing proportion of workers. Compared with peers of similar rank, Maldives’ 2025 industry employment rate is virtually identical to Cuba’s 16.91 percent and marginally below Panama’s 17.01 percent, suggesting that small island economies with limited manufacturing bases face comparable labour reallocation patterns. The modest uptick since the 2009 low may reflect modest diversification efforts, yet the long‑term trajectory remains downward unless targeted policies stimulate manufacturing, renewable‑energy projects, or agro‑industrial value chains that can broaden the industrial sector’s employment base.