Work & Labour in Southern Asia: Lower-middle income 59 indicators covering work & labour for Southern Asia: Lower-middle income. IndicatorLatest Year10-yr change Rank Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 819,897 2027 up 22.3% 13th Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.27 2027 up 4.6% 71st Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 663,396 2027 up 11.0% 12th Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.39 2027 down 35.7% 65th Labour dependency ratio 1.53 2027 down 18.2% 24th Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 26,697 2027 up 33.4% 69th Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 6,613 2027 up 32.7% 73rd Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 52.85 2027 up 7.3% 65th Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.43 % change on previous year 2027 down 20.0% 50th Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year 2027 down 18.9% 24th Employment 760,386 2025 up 25.9% 14th Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 760,386 2025 up 25.9% 14th Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year 2025 down 7.6% 25th Employment (ILO modelled estimates), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year 2025 down 7.6% 25th SDG indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of output per worker, GDP 4.53 2027 down 3.7% 2nd SDG indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of output per worker, GDP 4.5 2027 down 3.6% 2nd Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 55.27 2027 up 4.6% 71st SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP 59.2 2026 up 5.2% 2nd Labour income share as a percent of GDP 59.2 2026 up 5.2% 2nd LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment 7.67 2027 down 24.1% 65th Total weekly hours worked of employed persons 35.95 million 2027 up 18.6% 14th Ratio of total weekly hours worked to population aged 15-64 26.89 2027 up 3.6% 36th Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person 45.86 2027 down 5.5% 2nd NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 88,178 2027 down 11.9% 10th NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 25.25 2027 down 14.0% 16th Time-related underemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 3.44 2027 down 2.7% 67th Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 26,949 2027 up 22.1% 24th Full-time equivalent employment (ILO modelled estimates) 898,745 2027 up 18.6% 14th LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment 7.67 2027 down 24.1% 65th NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training (ILO modelled) 0.3886 % change on previous year 2027 down 81.7% 73rd Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) 1.5 % change on previous year 2027 down 30.0% 26th Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual 1.58 % change on previous year 2027 up 414.4% 26th SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) 4.39 2027 down 35.7% 65th Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) 0.581 2025 up 19.5% 55th SDG indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth aged 15 to 24 years not in 25.25 2027 down 14.0% 16th Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1) 0.6932 % change on previous year 2025 up 131.3% 30th SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of 12.35 2025 down 7.1% 41st SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total 86.28 2027 down 2.0% 9th LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization 75,405 2027 down 12.4% 19th Jobs gap rate 8.3 2027 down 27.8% 67th Jobs gap 71,208 2027 down 12.5% 18th Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers rate 4.1 2027 down 18.0% 68th Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers 35,228 2027 down 1.1% 17th Employment 760,386 2025 up 25.9% 13th SDG indicator 8.8.2: Level of national compliance with labour rights 4.91 2024 up 1.7% 18th Jobs gap rate 8.33 2027 down 27.8% 67th Jobs gap 71,208 2027 down 12.5% 18th LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force 5.82 2027 down 37.4% 74th Informal employment rate 86.28 2027 down 2.0% 9th Informal employment 676,347 2027 up 23.0% 12th Potential labour force rate 1.5 2027 down 43.5% 83rd Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers 35,228 2027 down 1.1% 17th Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers rate 4.12 2027 down 18.4% 68th Potential labour force rate 1.5 2027 down 43.5% 83rd Potential labour force 12,476 2027 down 31.6% 33rd LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization 9.06 2027 down 27.5% 71st LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization 75,405 2027 down 12.4% 19th Labour force participation rate for persons ages 25 to 54 67.3 2023 up 4.0% 81st Labour force ages 25 to 54 551,403 2023 up 24.3% 14th