Norway Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Norway's industry employment was 17.84% in 2025, ranked 73rd globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Norway's industry employment stood at 17.84% in 2025, a decline of +0.23% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.61% by 2026. Norway ranked 73rd globally.
Norway’s share of the labour force employed in industry fell from an all‑time peak of 23.52 percent in 1991 to a trough of 17.84 percent in 2025, placing the country 73rd globally in the latest World Bank series. Over the 35‑year coverage period the decline reflects a structural shift toward services and high‑value manufacturing, a pattern echoed in other small, open economies such as Malta (17.74 percent) and Bangladesh (18.03 percent). The contraction coincided with the expansion of the offshore petroleum sector and the rise of digital technologies, which reallocated workers to higher‑productivity activities outside traditional industry. Despite the downward trajectory, Norway’s industrial employment share remains above that of Somalia’s Federal Republic (17.75 percent), underscoring a relatively resilient manufacturing base. Continued investment in green technologies and advanced materials could stabilise the decline, while a policy focus on reskilling may modestly raise the industrial share in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 17.02% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 17.31% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 17.61% | - | - |
| 2025 | 17.84% | −0.23% | #73 |
| 2024 | 18.06% | −0.66% | #75 |
| 2023 | 18.72% | −0.28% | #86 |
| 2022 | 19.00% | +0.16% | #90 |
| 2021 | 18.84% | −0.84% | #89 |
| 2020 | 19.67% | −0.02% | #100 |
| 2019 | 19.70% | +0.63% | #99 |
| 2018 | 19.07% | −0.60% | #90 |
| 2017 | 19.67% | +0.15% | #97 |
| 2016 | 19.51% | −0.48% | #94 |
| 2015 | 19.99% | −0.59% | #98 |
| 2014 | 20.58% | +0.43% | #105 |
| 2013 | 20.15% | −0.23% | #102 |
| 2012 | 20.38% | +0.36% | #103 |
| 2011 | 20.02% | −0.20% | #96 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Norway matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Norway's industry employment was 17.84% in 2025. Ranked 73rd globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.
Norway's industry employment peaked at 23.52% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Norway was 17.84% in 2025.
Norway ranks 73rd globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Norway's industry employment is projected to reach 17.61% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Norway in 2025 was 17.84%. This ranks 73rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_norway_industry-employment,
title = {Norway Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/norway/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}