Skip to content
CountryAtlas

Papua New Guinea · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

26th of 185 · 11th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
UnemploymentPapua New Guinea's unemployment fell from 2.7 % in 1996 to 2.6 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020252%3%3%2.6 %

Papua New Guinea's unemployment fell from 2.7 % in 1996 to 2.6 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

16th of 183 · 5th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Youth unemploymentPapua New Guinea's youth unemployment fell from 5.2 % in 1996 to 3.8 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020253%4%4%5%5%6%3.8 %

Papua New Guinea's youth unemployment fell from 5.2 % in 1996 to 3.8 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

150th of 182 · 27th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
ParticipationPapua New Guinea's participation rose from 48.0 % in 1996 to 52.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202548%50%52%52.1 %

Papua New Guinea's participation rose from 48.0 % in 1996 to 52.1 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

114th of 182 · 23rd in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Papua New Guinea's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 47.1 % in 1996 to 50.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202546%48%50%52%50.8 %

Papua New Guinea's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 47.1 % in 1996 to 50.8 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

136th of 182 · 25th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Papua New Guinea's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 46.7 % in 1996 to 50.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202546%47%48%49%50%51%50.7 %

Papua New Guinea's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 46.7 % in 1996 to 50.7 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

95th of 182 · 15th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force, totalPapua New Guinea's labour force, total rose from 1.37M in 1996 to 3.75M in 2025.2000200520102015202020251M2M3M4M3.75M

Papua New Guinea's labour force, total rose from 1.37M in 1996 to 3.75M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

17th of 182 · 1st in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Self-employed (% of total employment)Papua New Guinea's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 81.3 % in 1996 to 78.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202578%79%80%81%82%83%78.7 %

Papua New Guinea's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 81.3 % in 1996 to 78.7 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

158th of 182 · 28th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Papua New Guinea's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 74.2 % in 1996 to 71.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202570%71%72%73%74%75%71.2 %

Papua New Guinea's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 74.2 % in 1996 to 71.2 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

41st of 182 · 7th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Papua New Guinea's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) rose from 26.7 % in 1996 to 36.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%35%40%36.9 %

Papua New Guinea's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) rose from 26.7 % in 1996 to 36.9 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

171st of 182 · 26th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in industry (% of total employment)Papua New Guinea's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 9.5 % in 1996 to 7.9 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020257%8%9%10%7.9 %

Papua New Guinea's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 9.5 % in 1996 to 7.9 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

104th of 182 · 15th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in services (% of total employment)Papua New Guinea's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 63.8 % in 1996 to 55.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%65%70%55.3 %

Papua New Guinea's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 63.8 % in 1996 to 55.3 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

138th of 168 · 20th in East Asia & Pacific
CompareRankingIndicator page
GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Papua New Guinea's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) fell from intl $15.1k in 1996 to intl $13.1k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $10kintl $12kintl $14kintl $16kintl $13.1k

Papua New Guinea's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) fell from intl $15.1k in 1996 to intl $13.1k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Papua New Guinea.

Other topics