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People / Labour & youth

Labour & youth

Labour-force participation, employment, and youth unemployment. Read the insight →
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Labour-force participation

% of population aged 15+

MODELLED ILO / WDI · 2025

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: labour-force participation descending. All observations use modelled ILO estimates via WDI.

Labour-force participation: source, year and as_of by country
Country% of population aged 15+
0100
YearSource & notes
Cambodia82.42025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 82.4.

Vietnam72.82025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 72.8.

SingaporeRegional context · not a peer69.72025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 69.7.

Indonesia68.02025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 68.0.

Timor-Leste67.02025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 67.0.

Thailand66.72025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 66.7.

Laos66.12025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 66.1.

Malaysia66.12025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 66.1.

Brunei64.22025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 64.2.

Philippines61.42025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 61.4.

Myanmar55.12025
World Bank WDI SL.TLF.CACT.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Modelled ILO estimate via WDI. National official labour-force survey figures use a different source family and are not mixed into these comparisons.

Original CSV value: 55.1.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars.

Employment-to-population ratio

% of population aged 15+

MODELLED ILO / WDI · 2025

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: labour-force participation descending. All observations use modelled ILO estimates via WDI.

Employment-to-population ratio: source, year and as_of by country
Country% of population aged 15+
0100
YearSource & notes
Cambodia82.22025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 82.175.

Vietnam71.72025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 71.67.

SingaporeRegional context · not a peer67.72025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 67.709.

Indonesia65.82025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 65.765.

Timor-Leste65.92025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 65.913.

Thailand66.22025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 66.157.

Laos65.32025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 65.302.

Malaysia63.62025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 63.631.

Brunei60.82025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 60.846.

Philippines60.02025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment-to-population mid-low among SEA-11; lowest of PH peer set (MY/TH/VN/ID). New to labour_youth pack.

Original CSV value: 59.979.

Myanmar53.42025
World Bank WDI SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. New to labour_youth pack (not previously in people_risk).

Original CSV value: 53.41.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars.

Youth unemployment

PH is mid-pack among MY / TH / VN / ID: below Indonesia and Malaysia, above Vietnam and Thailand. Brunei is highest in SEA-11 on this series. Cambodia’s very low modelled rate does not establish an absence of youth job problems; informality and survey capture matter.

% of labour force aged 15–24

MODELLED ILO / WDI · 2025

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: labour-force participation descending. All observations use modelled ILO estimates via WDI.

Youth unemployment: source, year and as_of by country
Country% of labour force aged 15–24
020
YearSource & notes
CambodiaInterpret with care · informality / survey capture0.712025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Very low modeled youth unemployment — interpret with care (large informal/agricultural employment; survey capture). Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 0.711.

Vietnam6.172025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 6.165.

SingaporeRegional context · not a peer6.782025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 6.781.

Indonesia12.982025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 12.977.

Timor-Leste3.722025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 3.717.

Thailand4.532025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 4.531.

Laos2.382025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 2.384.

Malaysia11.952025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 11.953.

Brunei18.232025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Highest youth unemployment in SEA-11 on this modeled series. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 18.23.

Philippines7.042025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Youth unemployment mid-pack vs peers: below IDN/MYS, above THA/VNM. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 7.041.

Myanmar9.812025
World Bank WDI SL.UEM.1524.ZS (modeled ILO estimate) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Unemployment, youth total (% of labour force ages 15-24). Modeled ILO estimate via WDI. Aligned with people_risk/indicators.csv.

Original CSV value: 9.806.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars.

Informal employment

GAP · All SEA-11 observations are empty. No informal-employment rates are plotted or estimated.

The WDI series is archived. National definitions differ, including informal-sector-only reporting; a comparable ILOSTAT extract is deferred.

World Bank WDI SL.ISV.IFRM.ZS (archived) / ILOSTAT · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
Informality coverage notes →

Key findings from this pack

  • PH participation and employment-to-population are lowest among its four peers.
  • PH youth unemployment is mid-pack, not the regional maximum.
  • Cambodia’s low modelled youth rate needs informality and survey-capture context.
  • Informal employment is a gap for every SEA-11 country.

Methods & coverage

Modelled and official estimates are separate

All three charts use the 2025 modelled ILO estimate series distributed through World Bank WDI. National labour-force survey figures in ASEAN Key Figures can differ, notably for Laos and Vietnam. Official figures are not substituted into these bars. The three indicators share a vintage but measure different aspects of labour-market participation.

Denominators and peer framing

Labour-force participation and employment-to-population ratios use the population aged 15 and over. Youth unemployment uses the labour force aged 15–24, not all young people. The PH peer set is Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Philippine youth unemployment sits between those peers; it is not the SEA-11 maximum. Low participation and unemployment do not directly measure job quality.

Cambodia’s youth estimate

Cambodia’s very low modelled youth unemployment needs the pack’s informality, agricultural-employment and survey-capture caveat. It does not mean there is no youth employment problem. No informal rate is inferred from that observation.

Precision and gaps

Participation and employment labels use one decimal place; youth unemployment uses two. Original values drive the bars and remain available in notes and downloads. All plotted observations are 2025, not stale. Informal employment is missing for every country and stays a notice rather than a zero chart. The complete CSV preserves original source notes, including comparisons with official estimates; the charts use only the modelled series.

Original gaps & methodology notes · Pack definitions

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ASEAN in Data (2026). Labour & youth in Southeast Asia. /topics/labour-youth

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