Myanmar Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Myanmar's services employment was 36.89% in 2025, ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Myanmar's services employment stood at 36.89% in 2025, a rise of +0.37% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 37.46% by 2026. Myanmar ranked 23rd globally.
Myanmar’s share of employment in services rose from 21.77 percent in 1991 to a record 36.89 percent in 2025, placing the country 23rd globally and matching the all‑time peak recorded in the same year. The early 1990s marked a low point, with services employment falling to 21.49 percent in 1993, after which a gradual structural shift toward tertiary activities accelerated, reflecting broader regional trends toward diversification away from agriculture and extractive sectors. Over the 35‑year span, the increase of more than 15 percentage points mirrors the expansion of informal trade, tourism, and telecommunications, sectors that have benefited from modest liberalisation and foreign investment. Myanmar’s 2025 services employment rate is comparable to peers such as Lesotho (36.09 percent) and Moldova (36.94 percent), indicating convergence with other lower‑middle‑income economies that have similarly rebalanced their labor markets. Continued investment in skills development, digital infrastructure, and regulatory reforms could sustain the upward trajectory, while adverse shocks to tourism or foreign capital flows would likely temper future gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 38.49% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 37.97% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 37.46% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.89% | +0.37% | #23 |
| 2024 | 36.51% | +0.50% | #23 |
| 2023 | 36.01% | +0.78% | #26 |
| 2022 | 35.23% | +0.27% | #25 |
| 2021 | 34.96% | +0.00% | #27 |
| 2020 | 34.96% | +1.35% | #23 |
| 2019 | 33.60% | −0.44% | #20 |
| 2018 | 34.05% | +1.09% | #23 |
| 2017 | 32.96% | +0.71% | #23 |
| 2016 | 32.24% | +0.70% | #21 |
| 2015 | 31.54% | +0.54% | #21 |
| 2014 | 31.00% | +0.41% | #21 |
| 2013 | 30.59% | +0.56% | #21 |
| 2012 | 30.03% | +0.55% | #21 |
| 2011 | 29.48% | +0.58% | #21 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Myanmar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2009. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Myanmar's services employment was 36.89% in 2025. Ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
Myanmar's services employment peaked at 36.89% in 2025.
The lowest services employment in Myanmar was 21.49% in 1993.
Myanmar ranks 23rd globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Myanmar's services employment is projected to reach 37.46% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Myanmar in 2025 was 36.89%. This ranks 23rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_myanmar_services-employment,
title = {Myanmar Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/myanmar/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}