Montenegro Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Montenegro's industry employment was 18.23% in 2025, ranked 78th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Montenegro's industry employment stood at 18.23% in 2025, a decline of +0.06% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 18.74% by 2026. Montenegro ranked 78th globally.
Montenegro’s share of its labour force employed in industry has slipped markedly over the past three and a half decades, falling from 24.32 percent in 1991 to 18.23 percent in 2025, a position that ranks it 78th globally. The sector reached its all‑time high of 24.43 percent in 1998, shortly after the breakup of Yugoslavia, before a gradual decline accelerated after the global financial crisis, culminating in a trough of 16.93 percent in 2021. The 2025 figure places Montenegro alongside peers such as Ireland (18.21 percent) and Iceland (18.24 percent), suggesting a convergence with small, open economies that have diversified away from manufacturing toward services and high‑tech industries. Structural reforms, investment in value‑added manufacturing, and alignment with EU industrial policy could stabilise the downward trajectory, while continued de‑industrialisation or weak external demand would likely keep the share of industrial employment on a modest decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 19.11% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 18.92% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 18.74% | - | - |
| 2025 | 18.23% | −0.06% | #78 |
| 2024 | 18.29% | −0.14% | #81 |
| 2023 | 18.43% | −0.61% | #84 |
| 2022 | 19.05% | +2.12% | #92 |
| 2021 | 16.93% | −1.51% | #70 |
| 2020 | 18.43% | −0.98% | #84 |
| 2019 | 19.41% | +0.51% | #94 |
| 2018 | 18.90% | +1.81% | #86 |
| 2017 | 17.08% | −0.38% | #70 |
| 2016 | 17.46% | +0.00% | #74 |
| 2015 | 17.46% | −0.10% | #73 |
| 2014 | 17.56% | −0.22% | #73 |
| 2013 | 17.78% | +0.35% | #79 |
| 2012 | 17.42% | −1.56% | #72 |
| 2011 | 18.98% | +0.47% | #87 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Montenegro matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Montenegro's industry employment was 18.23% in 2025. Ranked 78th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year.
Montenegro's industry employment peaked at 24.43% in 1998.
The lowest industry employment in Montenegro was 16.93% in 2021.
Montenegro ranks 78th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Montenegro's industry employment is projected to reach 18.74% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Montenegro in 2025 was 18.23%. This ranks 78th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_montenegro_industry-employment,
title = {Montenegro Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/montenegro/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}