Virgin Islands (US) Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment was 16.55% in 2025, ranked 58th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment stood at 16.55% in 2025, a decline of +0.26% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 16.26% by 2026. Virgin Islands (US) ranked 58th globally.
Virgin Islands (US) industry employment has fallen from its all‑time peak of 24.95 in 1991 to a trough of 16.55 in 2025, placing the territory at rank 58 globally with the same 16.55 figure recorded for Namibia in the same year. Over the 35‑year span, the decline represents a reduction of roughly one‑third of the labor share in industry, signalling a persistent shift away from manufacturing and extractive activities toward services and tourism, which dominate the local economy. The downward trajectory mirrors broader structural changes in small island economies, where limited scale and high import dependence constrain industrial expansion. Comparable declines are observed in peer economies such as Georgia (16.57) and Ecuador (16.59), suggesting that external shocks, trade openness and labor market flexibility play a role. If policy measures strengthen vocational training and attract niche manufacturing, the current downward trend could be moderated, but absent such interventions industry employment is likely to continue its gradual decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 15.70% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 15.98% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 16.26% | - | - |
| 2025 | 16.55% | −0.26% | #58 |
| 2024 | 16.81% | −0.30% | #62 |
| 2023 | 17.11% | −0.26% | #68 |
| 2022 | 17.37% | −0.31% | #72 |
| 2021 | 17.67% | +0.47% | #76 |
| 2020 | 17.20% | −0.43% | #72 |
| 2019 | 17.64% | −0.29% | #77 |
| 2018 | 17.92% | −0.30% | #77 |
| 2017 | 18.23% | −0.44% | #84 |
| 2016 | 18.67% | −0.26% | #86 |
| 2015 | 18.93% | −0.32% | #88 |
| 2014 | 19.25% | −0.35% | #91 |
| 2013 | 19.61% | −0.56% | #91 |
| 2012 | 20.17% | −0.81% | #98 |
| 2011 | 20.98% | −0.64% | #107 |
Analysis
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment was 16.55% in 2025, a decline of −0.26% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 16.26% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment was 16.55% in 2025. Ranked 58th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from the previous year.
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment peaked at 24.95% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Virgin Islands (US) was 16.55% in 2025.
Virgin Islands (US) ranks 58th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Virgin Islands (US)'s industry employment is projected to reach 16.26% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Virgin Islands (US) in 2025 was 16.55%. This ranks 58th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_virgin-islands-us_industry-employment,
title = {Virgin Islands (US) Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/virgin-islands-us/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}