Norway Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Norway's services employment was 79.66% in 2025, ranked 161st globally. This represents a 0.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Norway's services employment stood at 79.66% in 2025, a rise of +0.29% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 79.83% by 2026. Norway ranked 161st globally.
Norway’s services sector employed 79.66 % of its total workforce in 2025, ranking the country 161st globally and marking the highest share recorded over the 35‑year series that begins in 1991 when the share stood at 70.71 %. The steady rise from the early‑1990s trough to the 2025 peak reflects the country’s long‑standing shift toward a knowledge‑intensive economy, supported by high levels of digital infrastructure and a strong welfare state that facilitates labor mobility into service‑oriented occupations. Norway’s figure is closely aligned with peers such as Denmark (79.57 %) and Belgium (79.77 %), underscoring a common Nordic‑European pattern of services dominance, while the United States and Canada sit slightly above at 79.56 % and 80.15 % respectively. Continued investment in high‑skill training and the expansion of digital platforms are likely to sustain the upward trajectory, although a slowdown could emerge if demographic aging curtails labor‑force growth or if global demand for traditional service exports weakens.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 80.34% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 80.08% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 79.83% | - | - |
| 2025 | 79.66% | +0.29% | #161 |
| 2024 | 79.38% | +0.49% | #160 |
| 2023 | 78.89% | +0.21% | #163 |
| 2022 | 78.68% | −0.06% | #163 |
| 2021 | 78.75% | +0.45% | #166 |
| 2020 | 78.30% | +0.07% | #165 |
| 2019 | 78.22% | −0.66% | #163 |
| 2018 | 78.88% | +0.72% | #167 |
| 2017 | 78.16% | −0.28% | #164 |
| 2016 | 78.43% | +0.48% | #165 |
| 2015 | 77.95% | +0.76% | #166 |
| 2014 | 77.19% | −0.34% | #162 |
| 2013 | 77.53% | +0.10% | #166 |
| 2012 | 77.44% | −0.06% | #168 |
| 2011 | 77.50% | +0.21% | #169 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Norway matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Norway's services employment was 79.66% in 2025. Ranked 161st globally. This represents a 0.4% increase from the previous year.
Norway's services employment peaked at 79.66% in 2025.
The lowest services employment in Norway was 70.71% in 1991.
Norway ranks 161st globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Norway's services employment is projected to reach 79.83% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Norway in 2025 was 79.66%. This ranks 161st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_norway_services-employment,
title = {Norway Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/norway/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}