Thailand Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Thailand's industry employment was 22.24% in 2025, ranked 119th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Thailand's industry employment stood at 22.24% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 22.17% by 2026. Thailand ranked 119th globally.
Thailand’s share of industry employment has risen steadily over the 35‑year series, moving from the all‑time trough of 15.12 % in 1991 to a peak of 23.73 % in 2016 before settling at 22.24 % in 2025, ranking 119th globally. The upward trajectory reflects the country’s continued shift toward manufacturing and processing activities, a pattern also seen in peers such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (22.41 %) and Senegal (22.50 %). While the 2025 level remains slightly below the 2016 high, the modest decline suggests that Thailand has largely retained its industrial labor base despite broader structural changes in the economy. Future movements will depend on the pace of automation, trade policy adjustments, and the ability to attract foreign direct investment into higher‑value manufacturing, factors that could either sustain the current level or reverse the modest downward drift.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 22.16% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 22.16% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 22.17% | - | - |
| 2025 | 22.24% | −0.02% | #119 |
| 2024 | 22.25% | +0.33% | #119 |
| 2023 | 21.92% | −0.31% | #119 |
| 2022 | 22.24% | −0.04% | #121 |
| 2021 | 22.27% | −0.33% | #125 |
| 2020 | 22.60% | −0.29% | #125 |
| 2019 | 22.89% | +0.04% | #127 |
| 2018 | 22.85% | −0.05% | #129 |
| 2017 | 22.90% | −0.83% | #126 |
| 2016 | 23.73% | +0.01% | #129 |
| 2015 | 23.72% | +0.17% | #128 |
| 2014 | 23.55% | +2.29% | #128 |
| 2013 | 21.26% | +1.44% | #113 |
| 2012 | 19.82% | +0.38% | #95 |
| 2011 | 19.44% | −1.20% | #90 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Thailand matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Thailand's industry employment was 22.24% in 2025. Ranked 119th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Thailand's industry employment peaked at 23.73% in 2016.
The lowest industry employment in Thailand was 15.12% in 1991.
Thailand ranks 119th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Thailand's industry employment is projected to reach 22.17% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Thailand in 2025 was 22.24%. This ranks 119th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_thailand_industry-employment,
title = {Thailand Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/thailand/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}