Spain Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Spain's industry employment was 19.85% in 2025, ranked 101st globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Spain's industry employment stood at 19.85% in 2025, a decline of +0.24% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 19.62% by 2026. Spain ranked 101st globally.
Spain's industry employment has experienced significant fluctuations over the past three and a half decades. The country's all-time peak in industry employment was reached in 1991, with 32.04% of its workforce engaged in industrial activities. Conversely, the lowest point was observed in 2014, with a mere 19.19% of the workforce employed in industry. The industry employment rate in Spain has been steadily increasing since 2014, with the latest available data from 2025 showing 19.85% of the workforce in industrial occupations, ranking 101 globally. This is relatively close to Bolivia's 19.79% and Kazakhstan's 19.89%, but below Switzerland's 19.59% and New Zealand's 19.94%. The upward trend in industry employment in Spain suggests a gradual shift towards industrialization, which may be driven by the government's efforts to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. However, this trend may be disrupted by changes in global trade policies or technological advancements that alter the demand for industrial labor.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 19.22% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 19.42% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 19.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 19.85% | −0.24% | #101 |
| 2024 | 20.09% | +0.06% | #105 |
| 2023 | 20.03% | −0.43% | #102 |
| 2022 | 20.46% | −0.21% | #106 |
| 2021 | 20.67% | −0.14% | #113 |
| 2020 | 20.81% | +0.34% | #114 |
| 2019 | 20.46% | +0.19% | #111 |
| 2018 | 20.27% | +0.23% | #110 |
| 2017 | 20.04% | +0.34% | #103 |
| 2016 | 19.69% | −0.61% | #97 |
| 2015 | 20.31% | +1.12% | #104 |
| 2014 | 19.19% | −0.93% | #90 |
| 2013 | 20.12% | −0.52% | #101 |
| 2012 | 20.64% | −0.79% | #105 |
| 2011 | 21.43% | −1.76% | #111 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Spain matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Spain's industry employment was 19.85% in 2025. Ranked 101st globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.
Spain's industry employment peaked at 32.04% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Spain was 19.19% in 2014.
Spain ranks 101st globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Spain's industry employment is projected to reach 19.62% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Spain in 2025 was 19.85%. This ranks 101st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_spain_industry-employment,
title = {Spain Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/spain/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}