Photo: derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Puerto Rico: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Puerto Rico is placed joint 72nd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 40.22 (2025); Labour Income Share 59 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint72nd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Puerto Rico on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
40.22
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Puerto Rico: 40.22. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Caribbean
- 67.28 Jamaica
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.991
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Puerto Rico: 5.991. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.746 Cuba
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
10.31
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Puerto Rico: 10.31. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Caribbean
- 5.474 United States Virgin Islands
02Over time
Which way Puerto Rico is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
Puerto RicoWorld median
Puerto Rico fell from 41.31 in 2000 to 40.22 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Puerto Rico World median 2025 40.216 57.720 2024 40.212 57.694 2023 39.722 58.158 2022 39.319 57.688 2021 38.029 56.066 2020 35.760 55.691 2019 35.388 57.871 2018 35.032 56.911 2017 34.107 56.738 2016 33.653 56.845 2015 33.459 56.788 2014 32.970 56.774 2013 33.678 56.229 2012 34.112 56.289 2011 34.142 56.297 2010 35.154 56.212 2009 36.720 56.255 2008 39.657 57.308 2007 41.088 56.933 2006 42.030 56.685 2005 42.286 56.129 2004 41.858 55.465 2003 41.208 55.630 2002 40.684 55.843 2001 40.818 56.018 2000 41.309 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
Puerto RicoWorld median
Puerto Rico rose from 58.4 in 2004 to 59 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Puerto Rico World median 2025 58.997 46.230 2024 58.063 46.060 2023 58.688 45.900 2022 58.117 45.615 2021 58.501 45.433 2020 60.018 47.267 2019 58.815 46.277 2018 59.808 46.187 2017 59.494 46.467 2016 59.141 46.798 2015 59.069 46.876 2014 59.121 47.281 2013 58.970 46.887 2012 58.928 46.231 2011 59.000 45.679 2010 59.000 46.024 2009 59.307 47.071 2008 59.286 45.312 2007 59.162 45.246 2006 59.204 45.670 2005 59.302 46.265 2004 58.403 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
Puerto RicoWorld median
Puerto Rico fell from 10.08 in 2000 to 5.991 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Puerto Rico World median 2025 5.99 5.08 2024 5.64 5.15 2023 5.73 5.21 2022 6.00 5.34 2021 7.90 6.04 2020 8.89 6.38 2019 8.30 5.36 2018 9.20 5.35 2017 10.80 5.59 2016 11.80 5.90 2015 12.00 6.41 2014 13.90 6.58 2013 14.30 6.71 2012 14.50 6.79 2011 15.70 6.90 2010 16.10 7.04 2009 15.00 6.67 2008 11.48 5.79 2007 10.93 6.00 2006 11.01 6.50 2005 11.35 7.09 2004 10.31 6.80 2003 11.78 6.95 2002 11.94 6.91 2001 11.40 6.96 2000 10.08 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
Puerto RicoWorld median
Puerto Rico fell from 11.97 in 2000 to 10.31 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Puerto Rico World median 2025 10.3114 28.67 2024 10.3430 29.04 2023 10.3745 29.33 2022 10.3750 29.67 2021 10.3659 30.01 2020 10.5357 30.54 2019 12.2547 29.98 2018 13.6609 30.15 2017 12.6778 29.93 2016 11.1897 29.91 2015 9.7139 30.26 2014 10.7619 30.47 2013 11.8150 31.14 2012 12.8281 31.00 2011 12.5515 31.41 2010 12.0750 32.37 2009 12.0990 32.59 2008 12.0972 31.76 2007 12.6408 33.47 2006 12.4574 34.27 2005 11.9705 34.66 2004 11.9426 35.51 2003 11.8646 35.90 2002 12.2652 35.96 2001 11.4907 35.27 2000 11.9693 35.67
03In context
Puerto Rico beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Puerto Rico and Caribbean
Puerto Rico has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jamaica | 25th | 67.28 | 53.45 | 3.286 | 31.56 |
 Barbados | =54th | 60.47 | 55.58 | 6.524 | 18.8 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 68th | 55.83 | 45.2 | 3.329 | 21.25 |
| Puerto Rico | =72nd | 40.22 | 59 | 5.991 | 10.31 |
 Cuba | =78th | 51.34 | 41.31 | 1.746 | 19.32 |
 Dominican Republic | =83rd | 61.54 | 48.4 | 5.092 | 37.99 |
 United States Virgin Islands | 89th | 48.14 | 55.98 | 11.44 | 5.474 |
 Saint Lucia | 91st | 61.81 | 47.41 | 9.452 | 21.99 |
 Bahamas | 108th | 66.98 | 34.41 | 9.207 | 15.94 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 131st | 55.68 | 46.79 | 18 | 21.96 |
 Haiti | 155th | 54.38 | 52.18 | 14.94 | 76.04 |
 Anguilla | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Dominica | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Grenada | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Jamaica25th
- Barbados=54th
- Trinidad and Tobago68th
- Puerto Rico=72nd
- Cuba=78th
- Dominican Republic=83rd
- United States Virgin Islands89th
- Saint Lucia91st
- Bahamas108th
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines131st
- Haiti155th
- Anguillanot placed
- Antigua and Barbudanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Dominicanot placed
- Grenadanot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Puerto Rico in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Puerto Rico is ahead of the world, and behind
14 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Puerto Rico does better than the middle country measured.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,384124,95447,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Puerto Rico: 124,954 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 21st of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1660.9522.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Puerto Rico: 60.95 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.986.945.9No earlier reading
Puerto Rico: 86.9 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 012.70No earlier reading
Puerto Rico: 12.7 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Puerto Rico does worse than the middle country measured.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8313.9812.83▲ Improved since 2015
Puerto Rico: 13.98 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 81st of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Puerto Rico: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3636.8553.36No real change since 2015
Puerto Rico: 36.85 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 159th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 985698No real change since 2015
Puerto Rico: 56 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6642.7861.66▲ Improved since 2015
Puerto Rico: 42.78 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 167th of 182 · derived.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5184.1459.51No real change since 2015
Puerto Rico: 84.14 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 9th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8938.338.89Moved since 2015
Puerto Rico: 38.3 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 95th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8814.7218.88Moved since 2015
Puerto Rico: 14.72 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 141st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8412.6131.84Moved since 2015
Puerto Rico: 12.61 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 153rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.381.13914.38No real change since 2015
Puerto Rico: 1.139 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 170th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Puerto Rico
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2015), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2005), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2020), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2020), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2020). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Puerto Rico’s 5 topics
Work & Labour is Puerto Rico’s 2nd best-placed topic of 5. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Development & Human Capital63rd of 1962/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 72nd of 1824/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge118th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade106th of 1772/4 keys
- Energyjoint 144th of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Governance & Institutions, Economy & Innovation, Health & Wellbeing, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Democracy & Civil Liberties, Peace & Security, Risk & Resilience, Food & Agriculture, Poverty & Inequality, Digital & Technology: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Puerto Rico can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Jamaica25th4/4 keysThis page
Puerto Rico=72nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Puerto Rico and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Puerto Rico on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Puerto Rico rank on work & labour?
Puerto Rico is placed joint 72nd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Puerto Rico?
40.22 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Puerto Rico?
59 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Puerto Rico’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 41.31 in 2000 to 40.22 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 58.4 in 2004 to 59 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 10.08 in 2000 to 5.991 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 11.97 in 2000 to 10.31 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Puerto Rico?
No current reading is published for Puerto Rico on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 14 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Puerto Rico’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Puerto Rico (banner) — derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Puerto Rico: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/puerto-rico/work